COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Council Tax

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he became aware of the concerns expressed by Capita on the date proposed for the introduction of the council tax reduction scheme and that they would not be able to provide the necessary systems by April 2013.

Bob Neill: The Government have received a number of representations on the timetable for implementing local council tax schemes. As the Government response to consultation on the proposals set out, we believe that retaining the current approach for calculating support for pensioners, and enabling support for working age claimants to be calculated using the same factors, has the potential to reduce significantly the amount of change required to underlying IT systems. This could help reduce both the cost of introducing new schemes, and the time taken to make the necessary IT changes.
	We are aware of a memorandum from Capita to local authorities, dated 12 January 2012, on the approach to implementing changes to IT systems. This notes that, for some schemes, using the existing software with adaptations looks like a very credible approach for the first year of implementation. I am encouraged to note that Capita are seeking to engage with local authorities on this matter.

Council Tax

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had with providers of IT systems on the implementation of the council tax reduction scheme.

Bob Neill: My officials have met with a range of IT suppliers on a number of occasions to discuss the localisation of council tax support, which will require local authorities to commission changes to their existing systems to deliver local council tax reduction schemes. The detail of such changes and the approach to implementation is a matter for local authorities to discuss with IT suppliers.

Council Tax

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects the regulations pertaining to council tax reduction schemes to be available to local authorities.

Bob Neill: The Government have said that they expect to make regulations pertaining to council tax reduction schemes and/or detailed explanatory memoranda on the regulations available (including to local authorities) in May 2012.
	We have already made available to local authorities a tool that allows councils to evaluate the effect of different council tax support regimes on their particular circumstances, using data that they already hold.

Departmental Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many away days his Department has held since May 2010; what the location was of each such away day; how many staff attended; and what the cost was of each such event.

Bob Neill: Towards the end of 2010, my Department issued new guidance to staff that team away days should take place at no or very limited cost (for example, using rooms in the Department). This is a significant departure from practices that took place under the last Administration.
	New checks and balances have also been put in place, assisted by the discipline of the Department publishing all spending over £500 and greater openness over the Government Procurement Card.
	The following table shows which away days have been authorised by and held outside the Department since May 2010. The hon. Member will see how the new guidance is saving taxpayers' money.
	
		
			 Date Location Number of staff Amount (£) 
			 1 July 2010 Government Office, Birmingham(1) 90 966 
			 5 July 2010 De La Warr Pavillion, Bexhill 8 103 
			 2 September 2010 The Boys Brigade, St Neots (2)5 223 
			 10 November 2010 Newham College (2)30 200 
			 14 December 2011 National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts 70/80 (3)— 
			 (1) This was a training day for Human Resources for teams based in Liverpool and London; the cost includes catering and room hire, but excludes transport and spending on HR training. (2) Figures are approximate. (3) No cost. 
		
	
	In addition, I also refer the hon. Member to my detailed answer of 13 July 2011, Official Report, column 361W, on the hiring of a burlesque club commissioned under the last Administration.

Enterprise Zones: Heysham

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to create an enterprise zone in Heysham following the announcement that a new M6 Link Road is likely to be completed by 2015.

Greg Clark: There are currently no plans by Government to announce further enterprise zones in Heysham. Notwithstanding, local authorities will have new powers to introduce their own local business rate discounts, and already have powers to proactively grant planning permission for certain development in suitable areas via Local Development Orders.

Enterprise Zones: Job Creation

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many jobs he estimates have been created in each enterprise zone to date.

Greg Clark: holding answer 20 February 2012
	The Government have not made estimates of the number of jobs that will be created by enterprise zones. However according to estimates made by the relevant local enterprise partnerships themselves, the enterprise zones announced since Budget 2011 are expected to create over 70,000 new jobs by 2015.

Enterprise Zones: Operating Costs

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse to date of administering each enterprise zone.

Greg Clark: holding answer 20 February 2012
	Enterprise zones are being established by local delivery teams and are not administered centrally.

Fire Services: Finance

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what advice he has given to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service on the management of reductions in funding in current and future years.

Bob Neill: As the delivery of fire services are a local matter, determined by individual fire and rescue authorities, no advice has been given to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority. It is for the elected members of each authority to determine such matters, acting on the professional advice of their principal officers and following full consultation with their local community.
	I also refer the hon. Member to my letter of 6 December 2010 to the hon. Member for Derby North (Chris Williamson), a copy of which is available in the Library of the House, which outlines how fire and rescue authorities can make sensible savings without impacting on the quality and breadth of services offered to their communities.

Housing: Westmorland

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the amount of Housing Market Renewal funding that has been awarded to organisations operating in Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency.

Grant Shapps: holding answer 27 February 2012
	I refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statement of 24 November 2011, Official Report, column 30WS, and to the 2007 National Audit Office Report which made a number of criticisms of the Housing Market Renewal programme.
	No information is held centrally for the amount of Housing Market Renewal funding awarded to organisations operating in Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency.
	The Housing Market Renewal programme ended in March 2011. Between 2006-07 and 2010-11, approximately £14.9 million of Housing Market Renewal funding was allocated to Cumbria county council in partnership with Allerdale, Barrow and Copeland district councils.

Local Government: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to devolve further powers and responsibilities to the Greater Manchester city region as it has a statutory combined authority for the city region.

Greg Clark: On 8 December 2011, when we launched ‘Unlocking Growth in Cities’ I announced to Parliament—8 December 2011, Official Report, columns 35-36WS—our commitment to deliver a series of ‘city deals’—an opportunity for our largest cities to negotiate the devolution of the specific powers, resources and responsibilities required to meet locally-determined economic and social objectives.
	Accordingly, we are currently working with Manchester to agree the substance of their city deal, and I hope to announce the detail of their deal in due course.

Mayors: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if he will request the Greater Manchester combined authority to poll the electorate on the issue of an elected Mayor for the Greater Manchester city region;
	(2)  what consideration he has given to the merits of an elected mayor for Greater Manchester to oversee strategic city region governance by the Greater Manchester combined authority.

Greg Clark: As made clear in the coalition agreement, this Government's commitment is to provide referendums on city mayors, which we are delivering through the Localism Act and the Orders that Parliament has agreed requiring referendums on 3 May 2012 in 10 cities, including Manchester.

Planning Permission

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he plans to take to ensure that unplanned and scattered development and urban sprawl do not occur in areas that are not protected by special designations under the proposed National Planning Policy Framework.

Greg Clark: The draft National Planning Policy Framework sets out important safeguards to protect against development that would be unsustainable. For example the draft framework is clear that local planning authorities should avoid isolated homes in the countryside unless there are special circumstances. To preserve the natural environment, the draft states that local plans should seek to allocate land for development with the least environmental or amenity value, and should plan positively for the creation, protection, enhancement and management of networks of biodiversity and green infrastructure.
	Our reforms are intended to strengthen local participation in the planning system. Through their local plans, local communities can identify land which is important to protect from development, while planning positively to meet the needs of the area.
	We are considering carefully all the suggestions made to the consultation on the draft framework and the recommendations from the Communities and Local Government and Environmental Audit Select Committee inquiries.

Planning Permission

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when his Department intends to respond to the Eighth Report from the Communities and Local Government Committee on the National Planning Policy Framework; and whether it intends to publish its analysis of consultation responses on the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) before publishing the final NPPF.

Greg Clark: We will publish our response to the Eighth Report from the Communities and Local Government Committee and the analysis of consultation responses on the draft National Planning Policy Framework when the final framework is published. This is in line with the timetable outlined in my written ministerial statement of 19 October 2011, Official Report, column 65WS.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Big Ben: Tourism

Robert Halfon: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, 
	(1)  how many visitors participated in tours of the Clock Tower in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what recent estimate he has made of the annual cost of providing tours of the Clock Tower in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

John Thurso: During the 2011 calendar year 9,319 visitors participated in Clock Tower tours. Consistent, detailed records do not exist for earlier years. With three tours a day, there is an annual capacity of around 10,400 depending on the number of working days, but not all tours run at full capacity and there are some cancellations.
	The forecast annual cost of the Clock Tower tours in the current financial year is £94,000 (based on actual data to the end of January 2012). The majority of costs relate to the direct costs of employing the administrative staff and the guides. The costs exclude associated staff, management and overhead costs. Consistent figures are not available for earlier years.
	From July 2012, tours of the Clock Tower will be charged at £15 per head. The ticket price has been set to cover the cost of the tours, taking into account VAT and assuming a take-up rate of 90%. Costs will be higher in future because there will be some additional administration and guide costs (to allow for an expected reduction in cancellations). The forecast annual cost is £111,829. The £15.00 ticket price is in line with other commercial tours at Parliament (the Visitor Route and the specialist art and architecture tours), details of which can be found on Parliament's website
	http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/

Big Ben: Tourism

Thomas Docherty: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many places on tours of the Clock Tower each hon. Member has sponsored since the start of the 2010-12 Session.

John Thurso: I am placing in the Library a list of how many places, and on how many tours, each current hon. Member has sponsored since 6 May 2010, up to 29 June 2012.
	The information is drawn directly from the computerised booking system and so will contain detail of bookings that may subsequently have been cancelled.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Crown Prosecution Service

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General if he will undertake to publish the findings and recommendations of the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate's review of the Serious Fraud Office.

Edward Garnier: The findings and any recommendations of the proposed inspection will be reported directly to the Attorney-General, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr Grieve) and the Director of the SFO. There are currently no plans to publish them but the matter will be kept under review.

Crown Prosecution Service

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General who will conduct the Crown Prosecution Inspectorate's review of the Serious Fraud Office.

Edward Garnier: The inspection will be carried out by HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate led by the chief inspector, Michael Fuller. For the purposes of this inspection the chief inspector has supplemented his team with individuals with the particular legal and/or business management skills and experience needed for a sound assessment of the Serious Fraud Office.

Crown Prosecution Service

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General if he will place a copy of the terms of reference of the Crown Prosecution Inspectorate's review of the Serious Fraud Office in the Library.

Edward Garnier: The purpose of HMCPSI’s inspection is to provide information to the Attorney-General, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr Grieve) and the Director of the SFO about the effectiveness of the SFO in order to assess future priorities and current best practice.
	The focus of the inspection will be the quality and efficiency of the SFO's casework. The inspection will include consideration of:
	1. corporate structures and processes which support casework; and
	2. strategic decision making, investigation, prosecution and victim/witness care.

Crown Prosecution Service

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General when the Crown Prosecution Inspectorate will begin its review of the Serious Fraud Office.

Edward Garnier: The inspection has already begun with HMCPSI making familiarisation visits to the Serious Fraud Office on 28 and 29 February.

Crown Prosecution Service

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General when the decision was made to ask the Crown Prosecution Inspectorate to carry out a review of the Serious Fraud Office.

Edward Garnier: Shortly after the 2010 general election the director of the SFO (DSFO) invited the Law Officers to arrange an inspection and discussions on how best to carry it out followed. The Law Officers, in consultation with the DSFO, asked HMCPSI to carry out the inspection. That decision was reached last year. It is intended that the inspection should assist the incoming director and is timed accordingly.

Serious Fraud Office: Finance

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Serious Fraud Office's budget in light of the recent report from KPMG showing a significant increase in financial crime.

Edward Garnier: The Serious Fraud Office expects to be able to carry out all its normal functions within its funding settlement.

SCOTLAND

Tugboats

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2011, Official Report, column 910W, on tugboats, and the written ministerial statement of 20 December 2011, Official Report, columns 163-4WS, on emergency towing vessels, whether emergency towing vessels will continue to serve in waters around the Western and Northern Isles of Scotland after 31 March 2012.

David Mundell: Scotland Office Ministers continue to work with local authorities and other interested parties on a long-term replacement for the emergency towing vessels service. We continue to make good progress and we are grateful for the hard work of everyone involved. The oil and gas sector is assisting work to facilitate arrangements for the Northern Isles. There will be a further meeting this month to look at the issue of future arrangements for waters around the Western Isles.

PRIME MINISTER

Immigration Controls

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister when he received a copy of the Vine report on border security checks.

David Cameron: I refer the right hon. Member to the press briefing given by my official spokesman on 20 February 2012. A copy of the transcript is available on the No. 10 website at:
	http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/morning-press-briefing-from-20-feb-2012/

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities whether Ministers were consulted prior to the decision to allow the chief executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission to assume the role of Visiting Professor of Public Administration at Canterbury Christchurch College; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: holding answer 1 March 2012
	It is for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to approve this role. Ministers were not consulted prior to the EHRC's decision.

WALES

Air Passenger Duty

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions she has had with the (a) Chancellor of the Exchequer, (b) Secretary of State for Transport and (c) Ministers in the Welsh Government on the equal transfer of powers in respect of air passenger duty to Wales as those proposed to Northern Ireland.

David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), has regular meetings with ministerial colleagues and Welsh Ministers to discuss a range of issues relating to Wales. The Commission on Devolution in Wales (‘Silk Commission') is exploring the case for a package of tax and borrowing powers to be devolved to Wales. That package might or might not include air passenger duty. The Government do not want to pre-empt the findings of the Silk Commission.

Devolution

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when she plans to update Devolution Guidance Note 9.

Cheryl Gillan: I expect the guidance to be published in the next few weeks.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Air Passenger Duty

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans to devolve airport passenger duty to Northern Ireland for (a) domestic flights and (b) flights within the EU.

Owen Paterson: The Government have no such plans at present. The extent of the devolution of air passenger duty that has been agreed between Treasury and Northern Ireland Executive Ministers is set out at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/apd_ni_210212.pdf

BMI

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had on International Airlines Group's takeover of BMI; and with whom he met or spoke on each such occasion.

Owen Paterson: Following representations I received after the sale of BMI was announced, I discussed the matter with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Transport. I then met Willie Walsh, the chief executive of International Airlines Group, on 16 November 2011, and spoke to Steve Ridgway, the chief executive of Virgin Atlantic Airways, on 20 November 2011 to discuss their future intentions in respect of the Belfast to Heathrow route.
	It is important for business, tourism and other travellers to be able to fly from Heathrow to both Belfast airports. In his announcement of the IAG agreement to purchase BMI on 22 December 2011, Mr Walsh said that IAG will maintain
	“a comprehensive domestic schedule including Belfast”.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reduction in carbon dioxide emissions his Department has made under the 10:10 initiative.

Owen Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office is not a member of the 10:10 initiative. My Department is, however, a participant in the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme which is operated by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. A number of measures have been introduced in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, for example using video conferencing facilities so as to reduce/eliminate the need for travel. Carbon emission figures for the current year are in the process of being collated and will be made available in due course.

Departmental Responsibilities

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many meetings Ministers in his Department have had with (a) Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive, (b) the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and (c) Ministers in the Irish Government since May 2010.

Owen Paterson: The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), and I have had regular meetings with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive, the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Ministers in the Irish Government since May 2010.

Human Trafficking

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the First Minister on the effectiveness of measures to control cross-border human trafficking.

Owen Paterson: I have had no discussions with the First Minister on this subject. Any matters relating to human trafficking are now devolved and are the responsibility of the Minister of Justice in Northern Ireland who works closely with the Home Office on such matters.

Politics and Government

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in discussions with political parties in Northern Ireland on dealing with the past.

Owen Paterson: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) of 1 March 2012, Official Report, column 411W.

Public Expenditure

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many meetings he has had with ministerial colleagues in HM Treasury on the Northern Ireland block grant since September 2011.

Owen Paterson: I have regular and ongoing discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), and Treasury Ministers on this, and on a range of other issues relating to Northern Ireland.
	I am due to meet the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for South West Hertfordshire (Mr Gauke), again on 7 March to continue our discussions in the Ministerial Working Group on Rebalancing the Northern Ireland Economy.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect on arts organisations of the proportion of private giving being invested in London.

Edward Vaizey: We have made no such assessment. The measures we are taking to boost philanthropy and support fundraising will help arts organisations across the whole country.

Arts

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has to help (a) businesses, (b) individuals and (c) trusts and foundations to increase financial contributions to the arts; and what steps he is taking to ensure that such contributions are equally distributed across all regions.

Edward Vaizey: In his 2010 Budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer introduced measures to strengthen and simplify gift aid, boost legacy giving and establish the new cultural gifts scheme. We have taken steps to strengthen public recognition for those who give, whether businesses, individuals or trusts and foundations, all of whose support is invaluable. The primary relationship is between arts organisations and their supporters, and Government should be cautious about seeking to micro-manage those relationships. It is for donors to determine where their money goes, and it would be misguided for any government to seek to prescribe the geographical distribution of private giving. This Department, together with Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund, are providing £100 million through the Catalyst programmes to support the culture and heritage sector's efforts to strengthen their fundraising expertise and long-term financial resilience.

Arts

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department plans to take to assist arts organisations to develop (a) business skills, (b) marketing skills, (c) media skills and (d) fundraising strategies in the current spending review period; what funding has been allocated to implement these plans; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: All four of these elements should be at the heart of any well-run organisation's business plan, and should be determined and led by their chairman, board and chief executive. This Department, together with Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund, are providing £100 million through the Catalyst programmes to support the culture and heritage sector's efforts to strengthen their fundraising expertise and long-term financial resilience. This is in addition to tax incentives introduced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his 2011 Budget, which will boost both lifetime giving and legacy giving. This is the strongest package of measures to support philanthropy and fundraising that any Government has introduced.

BBC: Licensing

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will examine the opportunities for introducing greater protection and accountability for licence fee payers in the next BBC charter.

Edward Vaizey: The precise remit of the next BBC Charter review has yet to be decided. A decision on the details of the next charter review will be made closer to the time of expiry of the current charter, which ends in December 2016.
	In September 2011, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt) laid in Parliament an amended BBC Agreement that gives the National Audit Office full access to the BBC's accounts, to ensure greater transparency.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what reduction in carbon dioxide emissions his Department has made under the 10:10 initiative.

John Penrose: This Department has not been involved in the 10:10 initiative, but we have been working to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions.
	In 2009-10 the Department's carbon dioxide emissions were 1,345,571 kg and in 2010-11 emissions were1,064,119 kg which is a reduction of 281,452 kg, or 21%.

Freeview

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what responsibility Ofcom has for regulating the allocation of channel numbers on the Freeview platform; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The Communications Act 2003 sets out that it is the duty of Ofcom to have in place a code giving guidance for all providers of electronic programme guides. Ofcom's code includes a requirement that electronic programme guide services are provided to broadcasters on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. The code also covers the provision of appropriate prominence for public service broadcasting channels. These provisions apply across all platforms. In relation to the DTT/Freeview platform it should be noted in particular that the individual multiplex licensees have related licence obligations to ensure fair and effective competition. In addition, Ofcom has the power to investigate potential breaches of competition law in the communications sector, such as exclusionary agreements or abuse of a dominant position.

Freeview

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions Ministers in his Department have had with (a) Ofcom and (b) Digital Television Multiplex Operators Ltd on the allocation of channels on the Freeview platform; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The allocation of logical channel numbers on the Freeview platform is a matter for DTT Multiplex Operators Ltd (DMOL), who are this month launching a consultation reviewing the process by which logical channel numbers are allocated on DTT and the order services are listed on screen. Ministers have had a number of discussions with Ofcom in the context of developing proposals on adding licensed local TV services to the list of channels which must receive "appropriate prominence" on electronic programme guides. Secondary legislation to that effect was passed recently. Ministers have had no discussions with DMOL.

Mobile Phones

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the potential effects on consumers of setting a cap for wholesale data roaming prices at 100 euros per gigabyte.

Edward Vaizey: This Department has not made any specific assessment of the potential effects on consumers of setting a cap for wholesale data roaming prices at 100 euros per gigabyte. However, in adopting the negotiating basis for these ongoing discussions, officials have been working with a range of different stakeholders, including consumer groups and business organisations on the important matter of setting a wholesale price cap for data roaming.
	As we move towards a conclusion on this important proposed regulation, we will also take into consideration some recent work by BEREC (the EU group of National Regulatory Authorities) on wholesale roaming prices.

Mobile Phones

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his policy is on the multiple of the wholesale price to be used to set the cap for retail data roaming prices under the European Commission's Roaming III plan.

Edward Vaizey: This Department's policy on the relative differences between any wholesale or retail roaming caps that may be agreed during the current discussions on the proposed roaming regulation is, essentially, to make sure that the absolute margin between wholesale and retail price caps continues to reduce roaming costs for consumers, but, importantly, allows for further competition to develop in the roaming market within the European Union. Such an approach relies on an appropriate wholesale price that would attract new entrants into the market. In looking to settle on any such price differential we are considering proposals put forward by the Commission, revised proposals put forward by the European Parliament and some recent work by BEREC (the EU group of National Regulatory Authorities).

National Lottery: Sports

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the effect of reforms to the national lottery on the amount of funding going to grassroots sport.

John Penrose: We are restoring the national lottery shares for sport, arts and heritage to their original 20% each from April 2012. Our reforms should mean £300 million more for sports good causes over the five-year period from 2012-13 and over £190 million more for grassroots sport through Sport England alone in the same period.

Radio Frequencies

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the proposal in the 4G auction that 800MHZ band must include a coverage obligation of 95 per cent. of the population will apply to all mobile broadband customers and not only those using the winning network.

Edward Vaizey: The matter raised is an operational one for the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, officials at this Department spoke to Ofcom, who provided the following information:
	This is the subject of a current Ofcom consultation which has not yet closed. Ofcom has proposed to impose a coverage obligation on one 800MHz licensee extending to 98% of the population, or requiring one 800MHz licensee to provide 4G coverage that not only matches existing 2G voice coverage but also extends into existing ‘not spot’ areas due to be covered by the Government's £150 million investment in new mobile network infrastructure (to the extent that that infrastructure can accommodate 4G equipment). Ofcom has proposed that this obligation be imposed on a single 800MHz licensee to ensure that those consumers in rural areas, and those that visit those areas and require good coverage, are able to get good 4G coverage from the same operator in all areas. Ofcom is also consulting on the option of imposing this same obligation on all 800MHz licensees.

Sports

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has to merge Sport Scotland, Sport Wales and Sport Northern Ireland with UK Sport and Sport England; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: The Scottish and Welsh Governments, and the Northern Ireland Executive are responsible for the Sports Councils for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively. As such, we have no plans to merge them with UK Sport and Sport England.

Sports

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had regarding any future merger of Sport Scotland, Sport Wales and Sport Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: The Scottish and Welsh Governments, and the Northern Ireland Executive are responsible for the Sports Councils for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively. Any future merger of these three organisations is a matter for them.

Television: Licensing

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what steps he takes to ensure that the BBC's arrangements for collecting the licence fee are efficient and effective;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to learn from other EU countries how they manage television licensing to reduce red tape and cost.

Edward Vaizey: The Government have undertaken no analysis of these matters. Under the terms of the BBC Charter, the BBC Trust is responsible for ensuring that the arrangements for the collection of the licence fee are efficient, appropriate and proportionate. The BBC is independent of Government and there is no provision for Government to intervene.
	The Government encourage the BBC to achieve the highest standards of value-for-money in its use of licence fee revenue.
	In March 2009, the BBC Trust published a review of how the licence fee is collected. The report assessed whether the arrangements were efficient, appropriate and proportionate, and made recommendations.

Television: Licensing

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he was consulted by the BBC on its choice of contractors operating as TV Licensing as the agents for collecting the licence fee.

Edward Vaizey: The Government were not consulted and did not expect to be consulted. Under the terms of the BBC Charter, the BBC Trust is responsible for ensuring that the arrangements for the collection of the licence fee are efficient, appropriate and proportionate.

TRANSPORT

Aviation

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what projections her Department has made of (a) air passenger numbers and (b) air traffic movements in each year up until 2050.

Theresa Villiers: ‘UK Aviation Forecasts 2011’ sets out the Department's latest forecasts:
	http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/uk-aviation-forecasts-2011/uk-aviation-forecasts.pdf

Aviation: Biofuels

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her policy is on measures to encourage the use of sustainable biofuels sourced from jatropha oil in aviation.

Theresa Villiers: The Government believe that sustainable biofuels can make a valuable contribution to reducing CO2 emissions from transport. In the longer term, biofuels may be most valuable in the sectors such as aviation where there is no viable alternative source of lower carbon fuel. The Government are working with our European partners, the wider international community and industry to explore how to bring about a significant increase in the use of sustainable biofuels in aviation.
	The Government are also working towards a co-ordinated, evidence-based bioenergy strategy, including an analysis of the best use of available biomass resources, and will soon be publishing an assessment of the costs and carbon reduction potential of biofuel use in aviation.

Aviation: Carbon Emissions

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate her Department has made of the volume of carbon dioxide emitted by the aviation sector in the UK in each year to 2050.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 1 March 2012
	“UK Aviation Forecasts 2011” (figure 1.3 on page 6 and figure 3.3 on page 85, available at:
	http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/uk-aviation-forecasts-2011/uk-aviation-forecasts.pdf
	sets out the Department’s latest forecast of carbon dioxide emissions on a five-yearly basis as follows:
	
		
			  Million tonnes carbon dioxide (MtCO 2 ) 
			  Low Central High 
			 2010 33.4 33.4 33.6 
			 2015 37.0 37.9 39.3 
			 2020 39.8 42.9 45.1 
			 2025 41.2 45.4 49.3 
			 2030 43.2 47.6 53.4 
			 2035 43.7 50.2 56.9 
			 2040 43.3 51.1 60.4 
			 2045 41.0 51.3 59.4 
			 2050 39.6 49.0 58.4 
		
	
	An explanation of the low and high forecast ranges is provided in paragraphs 2.45 to 2.48 (page 25) of the report.

Aviation: Carbon Emissions

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work her Department is undertaking jointly with NATS on reducing carbon emissions from the aviation sector through improved flight path management.

Theresa Villiers: The Government and NATS support the Civil Aviation Authority's Future Airspace Strategy, a key aim of which is to reduce aircraft emissions through improved air traffic management.

Crossrail Line: Costs

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any cost savings have been made to the Crossrail project; and how much that project will cost in (a) each year of the current spending review period and (b) each year of the following spending review period.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 27 February 2012
	Substantial savings were identified for the Crossrail project as part of the spending review 2010 and Crossrail Ltd continue to optimise the scheme's value for money as they let further construction contracts.
	Funding for Crossrail comes from a number of different sources including DFT, GLA, BAA and the Corporation of London. It is expected that cost of the project will be no more than £14.5 billion.
	The Department's contribution to the costs of Crossrail over the next few years will be:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2011-12 517 
			 2012-13 1,205 
			 2013-14 1,123 
			 2014-15 1,082 
		
	
	The overall expenditure by Crossrail Ltd for the year 2011-12 is expected to be around £912 million with expenditure to date on the project of £2,599 million.
	In line with commitments in the Crossrail Act, I will make a further statement in the summer regarding the most recent spending levels on the project.

Cycling: Safety

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of current methods of assessing road surface quality; and what assessment she has made of the potential effect on the safety of cyclists of increasing the quality of the road on the metre closest to the pavement.

Norman Baker: The Department has made no specific assessment. Local road condition is a matter for local highway authorities who are responsible for setting their own highways condition standards. "Well-maintained Highways", the code of practice for highways maintenance, provides guidance for local highway authorities and highlights the importance of a consistent standard of maintenance including ensuring attention is paid to carriageway edge condition.
	The UK Roads Board, comprising local authority representatives, published a document in 2003 titled “Footway and cycle route design, construction and maintenance guide” which provides a practical field guidance for local highway authority engineers involved in the structural design, construction and maintenance of footways and cycle routes and includes a specific section on cycle route maintenance.
	The Highways Agency is responsible for managing the strategic road network in England. It carries out annual road surface condition surveys, principally to measure the levels of rutting, the ride quality, general surface condition and the skid resistance provided by the road surface in the wet. In addition, visual surveys and inspections are conducted regularly throughout the year to identify emergency repairs and to support future planned maintenance. Sections requiring potential maintenance are also further investigated to identify the road material quality and the overall structural aspects, as guided by the agency's standards and codes of practices. The agency takes account of maintenance needs based on road users' needs, including cyclists, and issues raised by members of the public.
	The agency's Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Volume 6, Section 3 covers the design requirements of new facilities for cyclists, taking into account their vehicular rights and their particular vulnerability as road users. It makes clear that the provision of facilities for cyclists should therefore be considered during the planning stages of new or improved highways and traffic management schemes. It also highlights the importance of good maintenance, including regular cleaning, of the one metre carriageway edge as it is likely to be used by cyclists to gain a measure of separation from passing traffic. It also recommends that drainage grids and gratings should have slots at angles not likely to affect the passage of cyclists and be set flush with the carriageway.

Cycling: Safety

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the number of cycling accidents on UK roads which were caused by poor road surfaces.

Michael Penning: There were 81 reported personal injury road accidents involving pedal cycles which had contributory factor “poor or defective road surface” attributed to the accident. This represents around 1% of all contributory factors allocated to pedal cycle accidents.
	The contributory factors reflect the reporting officer's opinion at the time of reporting and are not necessarily the result of extensive investigation. Moreover it is recognised that subsequent enquires could lead to the reporting officer changing his opinion. It is important to note where some factors may have contributed to a cause of an accident it may be difficult for a police officer attending the scene after the accident has occurred to identify these factors.

Driving Offences: EU Action

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to Article 3 of EU Council Act of 17 June 1998 drawing up the Convention on Driving Disqualification, how many notifications of a driving disqualification for a person disqualified in an EU member state other than that in which they normally reside the UK (a) issued to and (b) received from other EU member states in each of the last 10 years; and what assessment her Department has made of the convention's effectiveness.

Michael Penning: Since January 2010, mutual recognition of driving disqualifications has existed between GB and the Republic of Ireland (ROI). To date, these are the only member states to have implemented the provisions.
	Since the start, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has received 37 notifications of GB drivers disqualified in ROI and sent ROI six notifications of Irish licence holders being disqualified in GB. No assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the convention.
	Driver licensing is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and separate arrangements are in place with the Republic of Ireland regarding the recognition of driving disqualifications. Information on the numbers of disqualifications recognised between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is not held.

EU Action

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many EU-level meetings relating to her Department's affairs have taken place since 1 May 2011; and at how many and which of these meetings the UK delegation has been led by (a) her Department, (b) representatives of the Scottish Executive, (c) representatives of the Welsh Government and (d) representatives of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Theresa Villiers: At ministerial level, requests for devolved Administration Ministers to attend EU Council of Ministers meetings are considered on a case-by-case basis by the lead UK Secretary of State.
	Three formal meetings of the EU Transport Council of Ministers have taken place since 1 May 2011. The UK delegation was led by UK Government Ministers and the UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU. At the Transport Council in December 2011, the UK delegation included the Minister for Regional Development for the Northern Ireland Executive.
	There are numerous EU-level forums in which the UK is represented at official level. There are no central records of the number of meetings held and therefore not possible to provide this information.

Motor Vehicles: Carbon Emissions

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate her Department has made of (a) the lowest priced ultra-low emission (i) car and (ii) van available to consumers in receipt of the Plug-In Grant and (b) the number of ultra-low emission (A) cars and (B) vans which will be in operation in each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period.

Norman Baker: As at 1 March 2012, the lowest price ultra-low emission car available to consumers in receipt of the Plug-In Grant is the Renault Fluence Z.E. at £17,495 including VAT.
	The lowest price ultra-low emission van available to consumers in receipt of the Plug-In Grant is the Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. starting from £13,592 excluding VAT. These prices include receipt of the grant but maybe subject to change.
	The Office of Low Emission Vehicles page on the DFT website:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/topics/sustainable/olev/
	provides links to the eligible vehicles manufacturer's website. Prices of the vehicles are most accurately viewed here.
	Industry has identified 10 additional cars likely to come to market this year. We estimate, through publicly available information, that double this number of ultra-low emission vehicles are likely to come to market in this Parliament.
	Manufacturers of future models will need to apply for their vehicles to be approved before they join the grant schemes.
	As more models, become available, we expect an upward trend in the number of ultra-low emission vehicles (cars and vans) year on year as the market grows.

Network Rail

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to increase the (a) efficiency, (b) accountability and (c) consumer interface of Network Rail.

Theresa Villiers: Network Rail's efficiency is regulated by the independent Office of Rail Regulation. The Government will shortly publish a Command Paper on rail reform, which will set out how it will support Network Rail's board and members in improving the accountability of the company to its customers.

Network Rail

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will meet service management of Network Rail to discuss governance issues.

Theresa Villiers: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), meets with Network Rail's senior management from time to time to discuss a range of issues, including the company's progress on reforming-its corporate governance arrangements.

Network Rail

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if she will bring forward proposals to place a duty on Network Rail to consult with local councils and local community groups before introducing changes to parking charges and times in its car parks;
	(2)  when she next plans to meet the senior management of Network Rail to discuss parking charges in its car parks;
	(3)  what discussions she is having on the effect of car parking charges levied by Network Rail on the viability of local communities;
	(4)  what information her Department holds on the rate of change in car parking charges levied by Network Rail in each of the last five years;
	(5)  what consultation Network Rail carries out before leases on its car parks are transferred or rescinded.

Theresa Villiers: These are commercial matters for Network Rail as owner and operator of the national network.

Network Rail

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to improve the accountability of Network Rail to local community groups and local authorities.

Theresa Villiers: The Government will shortly publish a Command Paper on rail reform, which will set out how it will support Network Rail's board and members in improving the accountability of the company to its customers and stakeholders.

Oil

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations her Department has received from (a) Shell and (b) the Canadian Government on oil sourced from tar sands.

Norman Baker: Department for Transport Ministers and officials have had numerous meetings with various stakeholders including representatives of oil companies, of which Shell was one, biofuel producers, trade associations representing the transport fuels industry, UK and international non-governmental organisations (including those representing environmental and social issues), the European Commission, European member states and the Canadian Government to discuss all aspects of the fuel quality directive and will continue to do so as necessary.

Railways

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate her Department has made of the (a) costs and (b) benefits of the planned alliances between train operating companies and Network Rail.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 1 March 2012
	The Department is working closely with the rail industry and the regulator to examine the potential for greater partnership working between Network Rail and train operators.
	The Department supports such initiatives on a case by case basis where it can be shown that taxpayers will benefit from proposals and that passengers will benefit from improvements to performance.

Railways

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when her Department expects the deep alliance between South West Trains and Network Rail in respect of the Wessex route to begin.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 1 March 2012
	The Department is participating in ongoing negotiations and discussions with South West Trains, Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation to determine the deliverability of proposals for a deep alliance on the Wessex route.

Railways: South East

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions her Department has had with (a) Transport for London and (b) Southeastern Trains on the London Mayor’s Rail Vision published in February 2012.

Theresa Villiers: Ministers and officials have frequent discussions with the Mayor of London and Transport for London on a range of issues. No discussions have taken place between Ministers, and London and Southeastern Railway.

Railways: South West

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultants her Department employed involved in setting up the public consultation process for the Greater Western franchise; and what the cost to the public purse was of those consultants.

Theresa Villiers: The Department used internal staff resources and did not employ consultants to set up the Greater Western public consultation events.

Railways: South West

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if cost estimates were submitted to her Department in advance of holding consultation exercises relating to the new Greater Western franchise in (a) Plymouth, (b) Truro and (c) Torbay; and what any such estimates were.

Theresa Villiers: No such estimates were submitted to the Department.

Railways: Theft

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she has made an estimate of (a) the value of metal stolen from railways in the East Midlands in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011 and (b) costs incurred by (i) Network Rail and (ii) train operating companies owing to the theft of metal from railways in the East Midlands in (A) 2010 and (B) 2011.

Norman Baker: The cost of metal theft to Network Rail in the East Midlands was £155,750 in 2009-10, £282,473 in 2010-11 and £95,023 in 2011-12 (up till 4 February 2012). This cost includes schedule eight compensation payments to train operating companies. The Department does not have information on the value of the stolen metal itself or on the costs incurred train operating companies.

Railways: Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration she has given to ensuring provision of one or more direct daily railway services between London and Carmarthen as part of future franchise negotiation.

Theresa Villiers: We are currently carrying out a consultation exercise as part of the refranchising process. Once consultation responses have been received, we will consider in detail what the service specification should be.

Roads: Accidents

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road collisions there were between heavy goods vehicles and cyclists who were (a) killed and (b) seriously injured as a result in the latest period for which figures are available; and what research her Department has undertaken on addressing the issue of the blind spot of such a vehicle and cyclists.

Michael Penning: The latest period for which data are available is 2010.
	The number of reported personal injury road accidents involving heavy goods vehicles and pedal cyclists in Great Britain, is published in the table RAS40004 of “Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain—annual report 2010” at following web address:
	http://assets.dft.gov.uk/statistics/tables/ras40004.xls
	The Department for Transport commissioned research with Loughborough university on improving driver vision and this was published in November 2011. The reports are available on the Loughborough website at:
	https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/dspace-jspui/
	Phase 1:
	http://hdl.handle.net/2134/8872
	Phase 2:
	http://hdl.handle.net/2134/8873
	Impact assessment:
	http://hdl.handle.net/2134/8874
	The research findings are being used to improve international regulations on mirrors for new vehicles.

Rolling Stock

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2011, Official Report, column 1021W, on rolling stock, how much her Department will spend on new passenger rolling stock in each year of the current spending review; and to which franchises such rolling stock will be deployed.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 1 March 2012
	The Government do not directly invest in rolling stock. This is a matter for the train leasing companies.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much additional rolling stock was introduced to each rail franchise in each year since 2008; and how many units were (a) new and (b) cascaded in each case.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 28 February 2012
	The following table shows the net additional number of (a) new and (b) cascaded rail vehicles in each rail franchise since 2008.
	
		
			  2009 2010 2011 2012 
			  (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) 
			 c2c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Greater Anglia 0 0 0 68 120 0 0 -36 
			 East Coast 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 -25 
			 First Capital Connect 92 0 0 61 0 12 0 0 
			 East Midlands Trains 0 0 0 0 0 -1 0 0 
			 London Midland 148 -68 0 -52 69 -62 0 0 
			 Intercity West Coast 0 0 0 0 9 0 97 0 
			 Chiltern 0 0 0 0 8 26 0 0 
			 First Great Western 0 0 0 0 0 22 0 48 
			 South West Trains 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Southern 0 0 0 92 0 -76 0 0 
			 South Eastern 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cross Country 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 TransPennine Express 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Northern 0 0 0 0 0 62 0 0 
			 Merseyrail 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Arriva Trains Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 ScotRail 0 0 0 0 130 -20 0 0 
			 LOROL 0 0 210 -75 28 -10 0 0 
		
	
	These figures do not include net increases in vehicles as a result of “internal cascades” of older vehicles when new fleets enter service or services are taken over by another operator, e.g. where First Capital Connect now run services previously operated by South Eastern.
	The first units of new and cascaded fleets frequently enter service at the timetable changes in May and December each year, with additional vehicles following afterwards. The table above assumes fleet changes have occurred at the timetable change.
	Figures for 2012 are projected for the whole year, and include some vehicles that are currently out of use or not yet delivered.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Broadband: Rural Areas

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many communities have submitted expressions of interest in the Rural Community Broadband Fund.

Richard Benyon: The first round for expressions of interest under the Rural Community Broadband Fund closed on 31 January 2012. 39 expressions of interest applications were received, totalling around £12 million in proposed grant.
	Formal assessment of the expressions of interest received is underway. It is expected that the outcome of expressions of interest submitted will be notified to applicants during March 2012. Timing of the second round is also due to be announced in March.

Departmental Meetings

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many EU-level meetings relating to her Department’s policy areas have taken place since 1 May 2011; and at how many and which of these meetings the UK delegation has been led by (a) her Department, (b) representatives of the Scottish Executive, (c) representatives of the Welsh Assembly Government and (d) representatives of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Richard Benyon: Since 1 May 2011, DEFRA Ministers have led at all 14 EU Council meetings relating to the Department’s affairs. A great deal of DEFRA’s work is centred on EU business but the Department does not collect data on the number of EU meetings held at official level. In accordance with the memorandum of understanding and associated EU concordat between the UK Government and the devolved Administrations, DEFRA regularly consults devolved Administration counterparts on the UK position and, where appropriate, on briefing and speaking notes for such meetings.

Departmental Senior Civil Servants

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many senior civil servants left her Department and its public bodies in each month since May 2010; what their names are; what the rate of turnover of senior civil servants in her Department was during this period; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: A total of 63 senior civil servants left core DEFRA and its Executive agencies since May 2010, and a breakdown of departures by month is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of leavers 
			  2010 2011 2012 
			 January — 3 1 
			 February — 3 — 
			 March — 14 — 
			 April — 1 — 
			 May 0 3 — 
			 June 2 1 — 
			 July 3 2 — 
			 August 1 (1)14 — 
			 September 1 2 — 
			 October 1 0 — 
			 November 0 1 — 
			 December 7 3 — 
			 Total 15 48 1 
			 (1) Includes 11 legal staff transferred to Treasury Solicitors under a machinery of government change. 
		
	
	For reasons of personal privacy, it would not be appropriate to provide the names of senior civil servants who are no longer in Government employment.
	The annual rate of turnover for these departures is 20% (excluding the legal staff).

Departmental Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2012, Official Report, column 81W, on departmental training, where information on away days is held.

Richard Benyon: Information on how many away days core DEFRA has held since May 2010; what the location was of each such away day; how many staff attended; and what the cost was of each such event is held by the individual teams which ran those events.

Dogs

Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the merits of permanent identification of dogs.

James Paice: I am pleased to say that we are close to finalising a package of measures to tackle irresponsible dog owners. In putting this package together, we have considered the benefits of compulsory microchipping of dogs.

Dogs

Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with canine welfare charities on responsible dog ownership; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The Government are close to finalising a package of measures to tackle irresponsible dog owners. In putting this package together, both Ministers and officials have had several discussions with canine welfare charities.

Electronic Training Aids

Simon Reevell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for North East Derbyshire of 15 November 2011, Official Report, column 731W, on electronic training aids, when the research will be published; and when decisions will be made on whether to bring forward legislative proposals relating to such devices.

James Paice: The results of the research into the effects of electronic training collars is currently being peer reviewed and will be available later this year. No decisions will be taken until the peer review process has been completed or before any proposals are consulted upon.

Environment Protection: EU Law

Therese Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the membership is of the panel reviewing the Habitats Directive; and how they can be contacted.

Richard Benyon: We have set up a High Level Advisory Group of stakeholders to contribute to the review. Details of the organisations represented on the group have been published on the DEFRA website. These are: BAM Nuttall; Country Land and Business Association; Home Builders Federation; Local Government Association; Marine Conservation Society; National Trust; RenewableUK; RSPB; Seabed User and Development Group; The Wildlife Trusts; WWF(UK); plus an independent counsel.
	Any correspondence for the group can be sent via e-mail to the review team at:
	HDimplementationreview@defra.gsi.gov.uk
	This information is also published on the DEFRA website.

Fisheries

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to ensure that responsibly-sourced fish is promoted in Government Departments.

Richard Benyon: The Government take the impact that over-fishing is having on fish stocks very seriously. In September we introduced the Government Buying Standards (GBS) for food and catering. Under GBS 100% of fish procured by central Government must come from demonstrably sustainable sources. We are thus sending a clear message across Government and believe that our role is to lead by example to encourage good sustainable practice in the procurement of fish.

Flood Control: Expenditure

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department spent on managing the risk of flooding and coastal erosion in each year since 2008.

Richard Benyon: The following table sets out spending by DEFRA on flood and coastal erosion risk management in England from 2007-08 to 2011-12.
	
		
			  Spend (£ million) 
			 2007-08 456.7 
			 2008-09 568.2 
			 2009-10 627.9 
			 2010-11 664.1 
			 2011-12 550.2 
		
	
	These funds include DEFRA's own direct expenditure, DEFRA grants to the Environment Agency, plus capital grants to individual local authorities and internal drainage boards.

Gangmasters Licensing Authority

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what recent assessment she has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) efficiency of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority;
	(2)  what discussions (a) she and (b) her officials have had with (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in other Government Departments on the future of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of the potential of extending the remit of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority to include (a) construction, (b) social care and (c) hospitality.

James Paice: The Gangmasters Licensing Authority's (GLA) effectiveness and efficiency is measured by its performance against targets. The GLA's Annual Report and Accounts for 2010-11 (ISBN 9780102971439) provide more information. The GLA's 2011-12 Annual Report and Accounts, which will be agreed by Ministers, will be published in the summer.
	DEFRA Ministers and officials have regular discussions with their counterparts in other Departments as part of ongoing consideration of future arrangements for the operation of the GLA. It is covered under the Employment Theme of the Government's Red Tape Challenge.
	The Red Tape Challenge Ministerial Star Chamber has endorsed the need for the GLA to enforce protections for vulnerable workers, subject to better targeting of non-compliant operators and reducing burdens on the compliant. The GLA will continue to be monitored under the Government's ongoing reviews of public bodies and enforcement agencies.
	The proposal to extend the GLA's remit to the construction industry was rejected during progress of the Gangmasters Licensing (Extension to Construction) Bill in winter 2010. No subsequent consideration has been given under current reviews to extending the GLA's remit to construction, or other sectors.

Hares: Animal Welfare

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward legislative proposals to make it an offence to kill, injure or take brown hares and mountain hares during closed seasons.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA has already asked the Law Commission to review wildlife legislation and the Commission will submit its conclusions next year. The review will cover issues such as whether or not Ministers should have powers to make close seasons for animals such as hares, which, currently, we do not have. Meanwhile, I am writing to organisations whose members are likely to control hares, to encourage them to draw up best practice guidance for minimising welfare impacts during necessary control, including consideration of a voluntary close season.

Land

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2011, Official Report, column 800W, on land, when she intends to publish her Department's report on the application of best and most versatile land policy by planning authorities; and what discussions her Department has had with the Department for Communities and Local Government on the report's findings in relation to the National Planning Policy Framework.

Richard Benyon: The report “SP1501: Review of the weight that should be given to the protection of best and most versatile (BMV) land” will be published soon. DEFRA will continue to meet with the Department for Communities and Local Government in the normal course of business, including National Planning Policy Framework related meetings.

Litter: Publicity

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking in conjunction with local authorities to support the Keep Britain Tidy campaign.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA supports tackling key environmental issues through partners such as Keep Britain Tidy. Through a grant aid of £4 million in 2011-12, we aim to support KBT’s litter campaign “Love Where You Live”. Their campaign draws together businesses, communities, civil society organisations and local authorities, including 10 ambassador authorities in partnership to secure a lasting change in behaviour.

Marine Conservation Zones

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress her Department has made on meeting the targets for the area of protected marine and coastal habitat specified in the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Richard Benyon: The Government will continue to work, both at home and abroad, to ensure that the Convention on Biological Diversity target of at least 10% of coastal and marine areas is met. This will apply especially to areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, and these will be conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative, well-connected systems of protected areas, and other effective area-based conservation measures.
	This ambition is reflected in the recently published England Biodiversity Strategy, where we have set a target to have in excess of 25% of English inshore waters contained within well-managed marine protected areas (MPAs) by the end of 2016. Currently, nearly 23% of these waters are already within MPAs, primarily Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas, designated in accordance with the EU habitats and wild birds directives. For UK offshore waters the coverage is nearly 4% and we expect this to rise to just over 7% by the end of 2012.
	Further work on identification of MPAs is under way. As part of our contribution to an ecologically coherent network of these areas, we aim to formally consult on possible marine conservation zone sites by the end of 2012, before designating the first round of sites in the summer of 2013. Appropriate management measures for these sites will then be put in place.
	Progress within the United Kingdom is mirrored by progress within our Overseas Territories. On 27 February, the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands announced the designation of a new sustainable-use MPA. The MPA covers an area of over 1 million square kilometres of the Southern Ocean (equivalent to four times the terrestrial area of the United Kingdom), and includes over 20,000 square kilometres of no-fishing zones. This will help further protect the rich biodiversity of the islands and fishery spawning grounds. This follows the announcement in 2010 of the designation of the largest no-take MPA in British Indian Ocean Territory.
	The Government also recognise that the protection of the marine environment will also require action in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). Working with partners through the Ospar Convention, six High Seas MPAs were agreed in 2010 in the High Seas Area of the North East Atlantic. However, we recognise that an improved regulatory regime for the protection of biodiversity in ABNJ is required. That is why we are committed, as outlined in the Government's Natural Environment White Paper, to a new implementing agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation of biodiversity in ABNJ, including MPAs.

Marine Management Organisation: Manpower

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff at each grade were employed by the Marine Management Organisation since its creation.

Richard Benyon: The number of staff at each grade who were employed by the Marine Management Organisation since its creation, including those that have left and those still employed, can be found in the following table:
	
		
			 Grade Full-time equivalent Head count 
			 Administrative Assistant/Administrative Officer 62.5 68 
			 Executive Officer 107.6 108 
			 Higher Executive Officer/Senior Executive Officer 94.98 96 
			 Grade 7/Grade 6 33.2 34 
			 Senior Public Servants 7 7

Rights of Way

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage forest owners to designate their land as open access under Section 13 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Richard Benyon: Section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 allows voluntary dedication by land owners and long leaseholders of public access rights over their land.
	An Independent Panel on Forestry was set up in March 2011 to advise the Secretary of State for Environment on the future direction of forestry and woodland policy in England. The panel's terms of reference state that it should consider options for enhancing public benefits from all woodland and forests, including public access for recreation and leisure. The panel will report its findings later in the year.

Rights of Way: Coastal Areas

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost of delaying creation of the coastal access path.

Richard Benyon: We are not delaying the creation of the national coastal route under the provisions in Part 9 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. We have already approved Natural England's proposals for the coastal route along the stretch of the coast at Weymouth Bay and will open this in time for the 2012 games.
	We will continue to implement the coastal access programme and are aiming to open a further five areas around the coast by 2014-15.

Rights of Way: Coastal Areas

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the economic effect of the English coastal access scheme.

Richard Benyon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 December 2011, Official Report, column 613W.

Rural Areas: Finance

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many Rural Growth Network pilot areas she expects to establish in 2012;
	(2)  when she plans to make a decision on applications to be Rural Growth Network pilot areas;
	(3)  how many applications to be Rural Growth Network pilot areas (a) were submitted and (b) have been shortlisted.

Richard Benyon: In total 29 applications were submitted to the Rural Growth Network (RGN) pilot competition and 10 of these were shortlisted. We intend to establish around six RGN pilots in 2012 and we expect to announce the chosen pilots in March.

Sharks: Imports

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what her policy is on (a) existing and (b) proposed additional legislation on shark fin product imports into the EU;
	(2)  whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to regulate the possession of shark fin products.

Richard Benyon: We are acutely aware of the problems that the international trade in shark fins can cause and of the need for stringent controls to ensure any trade is rooted in sustainable fishing practices. The UK opposes and has banned wasteful finning (the removal and retention of shark fins then discarding the carcass while still at sea).
	The Government will continue to support domestic, European and international conservation and management measures to control the exploitation of sharks and the trade in shark products. Where appropriate, we will continue to push for bans in the international trade in shark products through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. We will also call for action by relevant international conservation and fisheries bodies to manage and conserve sharks worldwide.

Sustainable Development: British Overseas Territories

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance her Department is providing to British Overseas Territories for sustainable development and environmental conservation.

Richard Benyon: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 2 February 2012, Official Report, column 754W.
	However, I have since announced a further £250,000 towards a project to eradicate rats on South Georgia in order to protect the breeding colonies of globally important bird species. We are also supporting further research into invasive alien species.
	DEFRA is not providing specific assistance for sustainable development other than for the biodiversity conservation work, which of itself can be considered to be contributing towards wider sustainable development.

Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Bill 2010-12

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the Barnett consequentials which will arise from the financial provisions of the Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Bill.

Richard Benyon: The Government have decided that there is not a case for providing Barnett consequential for this spending, as the expenditure on reducing the cost of water bills for all household customers of South West Water is in response to the exceptional circumstances in the region.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders were issued in (a) the West Midlands, (b) the East Midlands, (c) Essex and (d) West Yorkshire in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11; and how many incidents of anti-social behaviour were reported to the police in (A) the West Midlands, (B) West Yorkshire, (C) Essex and (D) the East Midlands in (1) 2009-10 and (2) 2010-11.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 27 February 2012
	Centrally collated data on antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued are compiled by calendar year. The numbers of ASBOs issued at all courts in the West Midlands region, the East Midlands region, the Essex and West Yorkshire Criminal Justice System areas in 2009 and 2010 (the latest year for which data are available), are provided in Table A.
	The numbers of antisocial behaviour incidents recorded by the police in each of the specified areas are provided in Table B. These figures relate to the police record of antisocial behaviour incidents; that is, the number of “calls to service” received by them.
	
		
			 Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued at all courts (1)  in selected regions (2)  and criminal justice system (CJS) areas as reported to the Ministry of Justice (3)  by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service, 2009 to 2010 
			 Region/CJS area 2009 2010 
			 West Midlands Region(4) 203 153 
			 Of which:   
			 Staffordshire 28 24 
			 Warwickshire 10 3 
			 West Mercia 46 36 
			 West Midlands 119 90 
			    
			 East Midlands Region(5) 133 133 
			 Of which:   
			 Derbyshire 23 22 
			 Leicestershire 21 33 
			 Lincolnshire 16 6 
			 Northamptonshire 29 31 
			 Nottinghamshire 44 41 
			    
			 Essex CJS area 20 9 
		
	
	
		
			    
			 West Yorkshire CJS area 126 151 
			 (1) Includes ASBOs issued on application by magistrates courts acting in their civil capacity and county courts, which became available on 1 April 1999 and ASBOs made following conviction for a relevant criminal offence at the Crown Court and at magistrates courts (acting in their criminal capacity), which became available on 2 December 2002. (2) Each region had a Government Office with some responsibility for co-ordinating policy, and, from 2007 to 2010, each also had its own part-time regional Minister within the Government. In 2009 the House of Commons established regional Select Committees for each of the regions outside of London. These committees ceased to exist upon the dissolution of Parliament on 12 April 2010 and were not re-established by the newly elected House. Regional Ministers were not re-appointed by the incoming coalition Government, and the Government Offices were abolished in 2011. (3) Prior to the creation of the Ministry of Justice on 9 May 2007, numbers of ASBOs issued were reported to Home Office by the Court Service. (4) Comprised of the Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Mercia and West Midlands Criminal Justice System areas. (5) Comprised of the Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire Criminal Justice System areas. Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Prepared by Justice Statistics Analytical Services within the Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	
		
			 Antisocial behaviour incidents recorded by the police (non-National Statistics) (1) 
			 Number 
			  2009-10 (2) 2010-11 (3) 
			 Selected police force areas   
			 Essex 79,735 71,056 
			 West Midlands 170,525 135,141 
			 West Yorkshire 144,593 146,330 
			    
			 Selected regions   
			 West Midlands Region 330,471 277,066 
			 East Midlands Region 290,227 261,649 
			 (1) All police forces currently use the National Standard for Incident Recording (NSIR) to record incidents which are reported to them. While incidents are recorded under NSIR in accordance with the same ‘victim focused’ approach that applies for recorded crime, these figures are not accredited National Statistics and are not subject to the same level of quality assurance as the main recorded crime collection. (2) Management information on ASB incidents were collected by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) in 2009-10. (3) Management information on ASB incidents were collected by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) in 2010-11.

Abu Qatada

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  on how many occasions (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department have met (i) officials from the Jordanian Government and (ii) the Jordanian ambassador or her representatives to discuss the case of Abu Qatada since May 2010;
	(2)  what meetings (a) she and (b) officials in her Department have had with officials of other countries to discuss the case of Abu Qatada;
	(3)  on how many occasions she has met (a) her Jordanian counterpart, (b) officials from the Jordanian Government and (c) the Jordanian ambassador or his representatives to discuss the case of Abu Qatada in the last year;
	(4)  how many officials in her Department have met (a) officials from the Jordanian Government and (b) the Jordanian ambassador or his representatives to discuss the case of Abu Qatada since June 2010;
	(5)  what meetings she has scheduled with (a) her Jordanian counterpart, (b) officials from the Government of Jordan and (c) the Jordanian ambassador or his representatives to discuss the case of Abu Qatada in the next month;
	(6)  on what dates she has had meetings with (a) her Jordanian counterpart, (b) officials from the Government of Jordan and (c) the Jordanian ambassador or his representatives to discuss the case of Abu Qatada since May 2010; and what the location was of each such meeting;
	(7)  what the (a) dates, (b) times and (c) locations were of any meetings between officials in her Department and officials from the Jordanian Government to discuss the case of Abu Qatada in the last year;
	(8)  whether she has taken steps to investigate the possibility of deporting Abu Qatada to a country other than Jordan;
	(9)  what meetings with representatives of other countries she has had to discuss the case of Abu Qatada in the last year;
	(10)  which officials of her Department have met officials in the Government of Jordan to discuss the case of Abu Qatada;
	(11)  which officials in the Government of Jordan she has met to discuss the case of Abu Qatada.

Damian Green: Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of national and international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Antisocial Behaviour

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested for anti-social behaviour offences in (a) the West Midlands, (b) West Yorkshire, (c) Essex and (d) the East Midlands in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 27 February 2012
	The information requested on arrests is not collected centrally.

Antisocial Behaviour: Alcoholic Drinks

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost to the public purse was of alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in England and Wales in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10 and (d) 2010-11; and what estimate she has made of the likely cost in 2011-12.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office does not produce an estimate of the cost of alcohol-related antisocial behaviour. The total cost of alcohol-related crime and disorder in England and Wales is currently estimated at between £8 billion and £13 billion per year. This figure is not available on a year-by-year basis.

Asylum

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applicants are (a) untraceable and (b) in the controlled archive.

Damian Green: Rob Whiteman, chief executive of the UK Border Agency reported to the Home Affairs Select Committee on 20 December that the number of cases that are (a) untraceable and (b) in the controlled archive has reduced from an initial figure of 98,000 cases to 93,000 cases. The Case Assurance and Audit Unit will continue to manage the cases in the controlled archive, taking robust action to trace applicants and conclude cases where new information comes to light which allows cases to be progressed.

Asylum

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the applicant with UK Border Agency Ref. G1089659 first applied for asylum; when the applicant was refused asylum; when the applicant will be given consideration under the legacy provisions; and whether relevant medical considerations listed in the UK Border Agency guidelines are taken into account in deciding when a review case receives substantive consideration.

Damian Green: I will reply to the hon. Member separately providing details about this case.
	Medical considerations are taken into account when the Case Assurance and Audit Unit determine when cases will be reviewed.

Crime

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of (a) burglary, (b) theft from the person and (c) violence were recorded in each combined community safety partnership area in (i) May 2010, (ii) May 2011 and (iii) the latest period for which figures are available.

James Brokenshire: The information requested is shown in the tables placed in the House Library.

Crimes of Violence: Alcoholic Drinks

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of violent incidents in which the offender was under the influence of alcohol in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10 and (d) 2010-11.

James Brokenshire: Estimates of the number of violent incidents in which the victim believed the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol are provided in the following table and based on figures from the British crime survey.
	
		
			 Violent incidents where the victim believed the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol, 2007- 08 to 2010- 11, England and Wales, BCS 
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Number of violent incidents (Thousand) 971 973 986 928 
			 Unweighted base 46,903 46,220 44,559 46,754

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reduction in carbon dioxide emissions her Department has made under the 10:10 initiative.

Damian Green: The Department has reduced its carbon emissions for the period May 2010 to May 2011 by 17.6% measured against the previous 12 months. This exceeded the 10% reduction challenge under the 10:10 initiative.

Departmental ICT

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2012, Official Report, column 353W, on the internet, whether any non-governmental organisations are involved in the Department’s work to consider how existing capabilities within law enforcement can be enhanced.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office is working with law enforcement agencies and the social media industry to strengthen co-operation and to consider how existing capabilities within law enforcement can be enhanced.

Deportation

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any G4S staff have been dismissed following complaints from detainees in respect of tasks undertaken by G4S under its contract with the UK Border Agency.

Damian Green: Private sector escorting companies who engage in enforced removals operate within a clear framework set out in legislation and in a set of operating standards and instructions, which are published on the UK Border Agency's website. The provider of escorting services for the agency changed in May 2011 from G4S to Reliance Secure Task Management following a contract re-tender.
	Detainee Custody and Escort Officers are individually certified by the UK Border Agency in order to fulfil their functions. Where a complaint is made about an officer, the matter is investigated by the UK Border Agency's Professional Standards Unit. If a complaint is substantiated, performance measures can be levied under the terms of the contract, and the UK Border Agency can take action against individuals, which could involve re-training or in extreme cases revoking their accreditation completely.
	Officers are employed by the escorting contractor and it is a matter for Reliance, and G4S before them, as to the outcome of any disciplinary action arising from the investigation of a detainee complaint. The UK Border Agency does not record dismissals by contractors of their employees.

Domestic Violence: Housing

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many supporting letters for housing applications made by victims of domestic violence in the London borough of Bexley have been issued by the Metropolitan Police Sapphire Unit in the last year.

Lynne Featherstone: holding answer 27 February 2012
	This information is not held centrally by the Home Office.

Drugs: EU Action

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the success of the measures set out in EU Council Joint Action 96/750/JHA in combating illegal drug trafficking across the EU.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 28 February 2012
	The EU Council Joint Action 96/750/JHA concerns the approximation of the laws and practices of the member states of the European Union to combat drug addiction and to prevent and combat illegal drug trafficking. It sets out a number of broad measures that the UK undertakes as a matter of course when combating the threats we face from drug trafficking. This Government have made clear the value we place on working at a practical level with our EU partners to tackle these increasingly complex threats. We continue to review the effectiveness of our interventions to combat illegal drug trafficking.

Drugs: International Co-operation

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many drug profile results have been transmitted by UK forensic science laboratories to the Europol Drugs Unit under the terms of EU Council Joint Action 96/699/JHA in each of the last five years; and what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of that transfer system;
	(2)  how many drug profile results were transmitted by UK forensic science laboratories to other EU member states on a bilateral basis in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: holding answers 27 and 28 February 2012
	The information requested on transmission of drug profiles and drug profile results by UK forensic science laboratories is not collected centrally in the UK.
	The EU Council Joint Action 96/699/JHA concerns the exchange of information on the chemical profiling of drugs to facilitate improved co-operation between member states in combating illicit drug trafficking. It promotes the exchange of information relating to chemical profiling of drugs; facilitating interaction between Europol and member states through Europol National Units and liaison bureaux. The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) transmits this data on behalf of the UK forensic science laboratories. It forms part of the wider UK response to tackling drug trafficking, enabling evidential material relating to drug seizures to be maximised and strengthening our understanding of the UK drugs market through the more effective exchange of intelligence.

EU Justice and Home Affairs Council

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the UK's application and implementation of EU and other international acts and instruments in criminal matters has been assessed by the evaluation teams established by EU Joint Action 97/827/JHA; and what assessment her Department has made of the usefulness of that evaluation process.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 1 March 2012
	This joint action establishes a peer evaluation mechanism enabling member states to evaluate the application and implementation, by each other, of instruments designed to combat international organised crime.
	To date, five evaluation rounds have been conducted and a sixth is currently planned. These are:
	1. Mutual legal assistance in criminal matters—conducted from 1999 to 2001.
	2. Law enforcement and its role in the fight against drug trafficking. This was initiated in 1999 and ended in 2003.
	3. Exchange of information and intelligence between Europol and the member states and among the member states respectively. This was initiated in 2002 and the evaluation ended in 2007.
	4. The European Arrest Warrant. This evaluation started in 2006, and ended in May 2009.
	5. Financial crime and financial investigations. This was initiated in 2008. The first evaluation mission was conducted in Romania in July 2009. The final evaluation mission took place in the Czech Republic in December 2011.
	The sixth round of evaluation is planned to be on the practical implementation and operation of the Decisions on Eurojust and the European Judicial Network in criminal matters. This round of evaluation is expected to be completed in 2014.
	Typically, the process involves agreement on a questionnaire, which is then completed by the member state under evaluation. This is then followed by a short visit by a small team of representatives from selected other member states to, for example, conduct interviews with national experts. The process enables member states to share best practice and can also be an opportunity to detect any relevant weaknesses in implementation.
	In general, the Government support the concept of peer evaluations to promote more effective working between member states in the fight against cross-border crime.

Immigrants: Detainees

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants have been held in immigration removal centres in each of the last 20 quarters; and how many have been (a) released in the UK and (b) removed from the UK.

Damian Green: The requested information is not available in full.
	Since publication began of all the requested information in January 2010 until September 2011, 46,115 people have entered immigration detention. Of those leaving detention in the same period, which may include those detained before January 2010, 28,833 have been removed from the UK; 275 have been granted leave to enter/remain; 13,242 have been granted temporary admission or release; 2,912 have been bailed; and 502 have left detention for other reasons.
	The following table shows the number of people entering and leaving immigration removal centres for which published information is available.
	
		
			 People entering and leaving detention, solely under Immigration Act powers 
			  Total entering Total leaving Removed from the UK Granted leave to enter/remain Granted temporary admission/release Bailed Other reason 
			 2007 Q1 (1)— (1)— 4,197 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 2007 Q2 (1)— (1)— 3,791 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 2007 Q3 (1)— (1)— 3,889 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 2007 Q4 (1)— (1)— 4,243 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			         
			 2008 Q1 (1)— (1)— 3,763 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 2008 Q2 (1)— (1)— 4,168 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 2008 Q3 (1)— (1)— 4,182 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 2008 Q4 (1)— (1)— 4,199 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			         
			 2009 Q1 6,771 (1)— 4,039 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 2009 Q2 7,197 (1)— 3,817 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 2009 Q3 7,110 (1)— 4,092 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 2009 Q4 6,917 (1)— 4,145 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			         
			 2010 Q1 6,880 6,675 4,209 47 1,952 395 72 
			 2010 Q2 6,092 6,100 3,940 34 1,683 374 69 
			 2010 Q3 6,771 6,684 4,326 35 1,819 420 84 
			 2010 Q4 6,161 6,500 4,102 25 1,891 407 75 
			         
			 2011 Q1 7,015 6,875 4,321 47 2,021 414 72 
			 2011 Q2 6,362 6,337 3,850 49 1,926 443 69 
			 2011 Q3 6,834 6,593 4,085 38 1,950 459 61 
			 (1 )Not available. Notes: 1. Data from Q1 2010 onwards are provisional. 2. All people held are detained in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers and exclude those in police cells, Prison Service establishments, short term holding rooms at ports and airports (for less than 24 hours), and those recorded as detained under both criminal and immigration powers and their dependants. 3. Figures include dependants. 4. Some people entering detention may be recorded more than once if, for example, the person has been detained on more than one separate occasion in the time period shown, such as a person who has left detention, but has subsequently been re-detained. 5. Figures exclude people recorded as entering Harwich Short Term Holding Facility. 6. Relates to most recent period of sole detention for people leaving detention. The period of detention starts when a person first enters the UK Border Agency estate. If the person is then moved from a removal centre to a police cell or Prison Service establishment, this period of stay will be included if the detention is solely under Immigration Act powers. 7. Other reason for leaving detention may include some people released in the UK. 
		
	
	The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of people entering and leaving detention, held solely under Immigration Act powers, within Immigration Statistics. Q4 2011 detention figures will be published on 23 February 2012 and will be available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office science, research and statistics webpages at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/

Immigration: Ports

Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passengers entered the UK through each port of entry between July and September 2010 inclusive.

Theresa May: holding answer 19 January 2012
	Statistics relating to the total number of passengers entering the UK are published quarterly in table ‘ad.01’ of the Home Office statistical release ‘Immigration Statistics’. The latest publication covering data up to and including the fourth quarter (October to December) 2011 is available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Science web site at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-q4-2011/
	Statistics for 2010 for ports as identified in the Chief Inspector's report, ‘An investigation into border security checks’, and the total for all ports, are given in the following table. The data relate to numbers of journeys made.
	
		
			 Passenger arrivals by port of entry—2010 
			  Number of journeys 
			 Total 101,501,000 
			   
			 O f which the following selected ports:  
			 Heathrow terminals 1,3,4,5 29,519,000 
			 Gatwick North and Gatwick South 13,253,000 
			 Stansted 7,851,000 
			 Manchester Terminal 1,2 7,720,000 
			 Calais 5,153,500 
			 Coquelles 4,739,000 
			 Luton 3,634,000 
			 Birmingham 3,377,000 
			 Bristol 2,144,000 
			 Edinburgh 1,848,000 
			 Newcastle 1,499,000 
			 Glasgow 1,465,000 
			 Portsmouth 1,097,000 
			 Belfast International 840,000 
			 Cardiff 516,000 
			 Plymouth 456,000 
			 Newhaven 128,000 
			 Notes: 1. Provisional figures. 2. Figures are numbers of journeys and include passengers in transit who do not pass through immigration controls. 3. Data for some smaller ports are included within returns from larger ports and cannot be separated. 4. Data are rounded to nearest thousand and exclude arrivals from the Common Travel Area. Sources: Data for ports as published in Figure 2, ‘An investigation into border security checks’, Independent Chief Inspector, Februrary2012 Total for all ports as published in table ad01, ‘Immigration Statistics’ July to September 2011, Migration Statistics. Home Office, November 2011

Khat: Drug Seizures

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much of the drug khat was seized during attempted exportation to other European countries where it is banned in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to prevent the exportation of the drug khat to other European countries.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 1 March 2012
	Khat is not subject to drug control legislation in the UK.
	The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs expect to complete their review of khat commissioned by the Government by the end of the year (2012). The review will include considerations of the nature of the khat trade, including international trafficking, in a view to inform the Government’s khat policy.

Legal Opinion

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to EU Council Joint Action 98/427/JHA, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the steps taken by the Government on statements of good practice in mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

James Brokenshire: The EU Joint Action 98/427/JHA of 29 June 1998 on good practice in mutual legal assistance in criminal matters sets out a number of recommendations for the operation of mutual legal assistance (MLA). Many of the recommendations are standard in relation to the operation of MLA and the UK undertakes them as a matter of course. Since the joint action was published in 1998 there have been numerous developments in the field of EU MLA with a view to improving the effectiveness of MLA and this is kept generally under review.

Metropolitan Police: Cybercrime

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Metropolitan Police's Central e-Crime Units; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The police central e-crime unit’s remit is to tackle those responsible for the most serious cyber crime incidents of computer intrusion, distribution of malicious code, denial of service attacks and internet-enabled fraud. In October it released figures showing that in the first six months of its increased funding under the National Cyber Security Programme, it saved the UK from losing £140 million to cyber crime.

National Crime Agency

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the National Crime Agency to be fully operational.

James Brokenshire: The National Crime Agency is intended to be fully operational during 2013 subject to the passage of the necessary legislation.

Sir Michael Scholar

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communication (a) she and (b) the head of the UK Border Agency has had with Sir Michael Scholar in the last 12 months.

Damian Green: In the last year, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), received a letter from Sir Michael Scholar on the subject of Transport for London statistics on 16 March 2011 to which she replied on 31 March 2011.
	The Home Secretary and the head of the UK Border Agency have occasionally been copied in to letters from Sir Michael Scholar on statistical matters. All of these are routinely published on the UK Statistical Authority’s website available at:
	http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/reports---correspondence/correspondence/index.html
	The Home Secretary has also copied some of her letters to the national statistician to Sir Michael Scholar on the matter of the national statistician’s review of crime statistics.
	The Home Office’s chief statistician and his staff communicate with the UK Statistics Authority and the National Statistician’s Office on a continual basis on professional statistical matters.

Stalking

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many responses were received to her Department's consultation on stalking which closed on 5 February 2012.

Lynne Featherstone: We received a total of 156 responses to the consultation, including from victims and their families, stalking charities, the police, criminal justice professionals and members of the public.
	We will publish a full response to the consultation on 8 March (International Women's Day).

Stalking

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has received a copy of the report of the independent parliamentary inquiry into stalking law reform; and whether her Department will consider the findings and recommendations of that report as part of its consultation on stalking which closed on 5 February 2012.

Lynne Featherstone: I have been forwarded a copy of the report of the independent parliamentary inquiry by officials.
	As the Minister of State for Crime Prevention and Antisocial Behaviour Reduction, my noble Friend Lord Henley, explained in the House of Lords on 6 February 2012 during the Report stage on the Protection of Freedoms Bill, the Government will consider the responses to the consultation on stalking and the independent parliamentary inquiry report before the Third Reading of the Bill. This will give the Government an opportunity to reach a view on the best way forward on the issue of stalking.

Theft: Metals

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been prosecuted for exporting stolen scrap metal in each of the last 10 years.

James Brokenshire: Information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on the Court Proceedings Database does not include information about the circumstances behind each case, beyond the description provided in the statute under which proceedings are brought. It is therefore not possible to separately identify offences involving exporting stolen scrap metal from other offences relating to scrap metal.

UK Border Agency

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Border Agency announced that the Case Resolution Directorate had completed its review of all known legacy cases; when the Case Assurance and Audit Unit succeeded the Case Resolution Directorate; and how many legacy asylum cases have not been concluded.

Damian Green: On 5 July 2011 Jonathan Sedgwick, the then acting chief executive of the UK Border Agency, advised the Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) that the Case Resolution Directorate had completed its review of all known legacy cases.
	In his statement he further advised that the Case Assurance and Audit Unit (CAAU) had succeeded the Case Resolution Directorate from 1 April 2011.
	Rob Whiteman reported to the HASC on 20 December that there were 17 000 live legacy cases to conclude and 93,000 cases in the Controlled Archive which CAAU will continue to manage, taking robust action to trace applicants and conclude cases where new information comes to light which allows cases to be progressed.

UK Border Agency: Pay

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has any plans to review the salary of the head of the UK Border Agency following the creation of an independent UK Border Force.

Damian Green: The new arrangements for Border Force announced by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), on 20 February 2012, Official Report, columns 621-23, took effect from 1 March 2012. Completing the modernisation of the UK Border Agency remains a challenging job and requires the leadership of the highest calibre chief executive. The salary received by the current chief executive continues to be appropriate to the role.

Visas: Tripoli

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average waiting time is for an application for a British visa from the British embassy in Tripoli.

Damian Green: Due to the current security situation in Libya, the UK visa service in Tripoli is suspended. However, the UK Border Agency offers exceptional visa services to Libyan officials visiting the UK at the invitation of the British Government. All such visas are processed to external customer standards, but the limited volumes mean that average processing time data is not collated.

JUSTICE

Chief Coroner

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library a copy of the draft job description for the post of Chief Coroner.

Jonathan Djanogly: Discussions on the role of chief coroner are still ongoing so it would be inappropriate to place a copy of the job description in the Library at this stage. A copy of the job description will be laid in the Library of both Houses once finalised.

Chief Coroner

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what (a) meetings and (b) other discussions he has had with members of the judiciary on the role of Chief Coroner in the last three months.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), has not held any meetings with members of the judiciary about the role of the Chief Coroner in the last three months. Officials from the Ministry of Justice participated in a workshop with senior members of the judiciary to discuss the office of the Chief Coroner in February.

Chief Coroner

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what arrangements he is considering on the reporting to Parliament of the work of Chief Coroner.

Jonathan Djanogly: Section 36 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 imposes a duty on the chief coroner to give an annual report to the Lord Chancellor, and requires the Lord Chancellor to publish each report and lay copies in Parliament. The Government intend to implement this provision once the chief coroner has formally taken up post.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority: Public Expenditure

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his Department's most recent estimate is of the savings to the public purse which will accrue from the proposed reform of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority; and in which year of the comprehensive spending review period these savings are expected to arise.

Crispin Blunt: In our consultation document 'Getting it Right for Victims and Witnesses' we made proposals for reforming the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme rather than the authority.
	If our proposals were to be implemented in full we estimate they would reduce the annual cost of the scheme by between £40 million and £60 million. These savings will start to accrue to the public purse once the reformed scheme is in place.
	Subject to parliamentary approval we anticipate the revised scheme being in place this summer or early autumn.

Employment Tribunals Service

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hearings (a) were cancelled by each employment tribunal, (b) were listed as floaters, (c) were listed within 26 weeks of receipt in single jurisdiction claims and (d) needed to be adjourned as a result of being part-heard; in how many cases the written judgment was sent to the parties within four weeks of the conclusion of the hearing; and what the average period of time taken to list pre-hearing reviews was in each of the last five years.

Jonathan Djanogly: Employment tribunals list various types of hearings, including case management discussions, pre-hearing reviews, full/final hearings (which include assessment of remedies, where relevant) and review hearings.
	Listing of hearings in cases (including the cancellation, postponement or adjournment of cases) is a judicial matter. Once listed, “cancellations” can occur, for example, where the claim is resolved, settled or withdrawn before the hearing is scheduled to take place; where a postponement request is made by one or both of the parties and accepted by the tribunal; or where the employment tribunal itself postpones the hearing on its own volition for any number of reasons.
	In relation to part (a) of the question, Tables 1(a) to 1(e) show all hearings recorded as “postponed by Tribunal” for each Employment Tribunal Office across Great Britain, respectively for each of the five financial years for which data was sought. It is not possible to discern the cause of the postponement (for example, whether it was at the instigation of parties, or the tribunal's own volition).
	
		
			 Table 1 a: Hearings postponed by the tribunal in the financial year 2006-07 
			 Office Full hearings postponed Total hearings postponed 
			 Birmingham 460 680 
			 Leicester 52 60 
			 Nottingham 300 380 
			 Shrewsbury 0 0 
			 Leeds 5 5 
			 Liverpool 0 1 
			 Manchester 4 4 
			 Newcastle 150 190 
			 Sheffield 190 220 
			 Aberdeen 1 1 
			 Dundee 2 2 
			 Edinburgh 2 3 
			 Glasgow 1 4 
			 London Central 4 5 
			 Ashford 0 0 
			 Bedford 18 20 
			 Bury St Edmunds 10 17 
			 Reading 34 40 
			 Stratford 0 0 
			 Watford 240 300 
			 Bristol 150 180 
			 Cardiff 0 0 
			 Exeter 190 260 
			 Southampton 210 290 
			 London South 0 0 
			 Total 2,000 2,660 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 1 b: Hearings postponed by the tribunal in the financial year 2007-08 
			 Office Full hearings postponed Total hearings postponed 
			 Birmingham 340 500 
			 Leicester 18 19 
			 Nottingham 270 340 
			 Shrewsbury 0 0 
			 Leeds 76 91 
			 Liverpool 0 1 
			 Manchester 8 11 
			 Newcastle 81 130 
			 Sheffield 140 190 
			 Aberdeen 0 0 
			 Dundee 0 0 
			 Edinburgh 0 0 
			 Glasgow 1 1 
			 London Central 2 3 
		
	
	
		
			 Ashford 1 1 
			 Bedford 110 130 
			 Bury St Edmunds 150 190 
			 Reading 79 100 
			 Stratford 0 1 
			 Watford 170 250 
			 Bristol 94 99 
			 Cardiff 0 0 
			 Exeter 190 220 
			 Southampton 210 290 
			 London South 0 0 
			 Total 1,940 2,570 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 1c: Hearings postponed by the tribunal in the financial year 2008-09 
			 Office Full hearings postponed Total hearings postponed 
			 Birmingham 360 520 
			 Leicester 21 26 
			 Nottingham 390 510 
			 Shrewsbury 1 1 
			 Leeds 110 190 
			 Liverpool 0 0 
			 Manchester 67 84 
			 Newcastle 240 510 
			 Sheffield 140 160 
			 Aberdeen 0 0 
			 Dundee 0 0 
			 Edinburgh 1 1 
			 Glasgow 0 4 
			 London Central 350 530 
			 Ashford 28 37 
			 Bedford 130 150 
			 Bury St Edmunds 120 160 
			 Reading 69 74 
			 Stratford 1 2 
			 Watford 360 460 
			 Bristol 30 31 
			 Cardiff 1 1 
			 Exeter 72 90 
			 Southampton 200 240 
			 London South 1 1 
			 Total 2,690 3,760 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 1d: Hearings postponed by the tribunal in the financial year 2009-10 
			 Office Full hearings postponed Total hearings postponed 
			 Birmingham 640 860 
			 Leicester 67 98 
			 Nottingham 390 530 
			 Shrewsbury 0 0 
			 Leeds 260 380 
			 Liverpool 80 100 
			 Manchester 280 460 
			 Newcastle 230 320 
			 Sheffield 0 2 
			 Aberdeen 470 630 
			 Dundee 60 73 
			 Edinburgh 360 440 
			 Glasgow 200 260 
			 London Central 1 2 
			 Ashford 0 0 
			 Bedford 110 140 
			 Bury St Edmunds 10 10 
			 Reading 310 420 
		
	
	
		
			 Stratford (relocated to London East in 2009-10) 0 0 
			 Watford 32 58 
			 Bristol 10 11 
			 Cardiff 0 0 
			 Exeter 61 76 
			 Southampton 280 360 
			 London South 0 0 
			 Total 3,850 5,220 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 1e: Hearings postponed by the tribunal in the financial year 2010-11 
			 Office Full hearings postponed Total hearings postponed 
			 Birmingham 700 1050 
			 Leicester 24 32 
			 Nottingham 69 100 
			 Shrewsbury 0 0 
			 Leeds 320 460 
			 Liverpool 28 30 
			 Manchester 99 130 
			 Newcastle 320 550 
			 Sheffield 210 290 
			 Aberdeen 420 650 
			 Dundee 270 340 
			 Edinburgh 180 250 
			 Glasgow 170 220 
			 London Central 36 41 
			 Ashford 0 0 
			 Bedford 62 74 
			 Bury St Edmunds 2 5 
			 Reading 260 330 
			 London East 0 0 
			 Watford 190 280 
			 Bristol 16 16 
			 Cardiff 0 0 
			 Exeter 89 110 
			 Southampton 330 480 
			 London South 0 0 
			 Total 3,780 5,430 
			 Notes: 1. Hearings are marked as “postponed by Tribunal” on the tribunal management information system. These are hearings where, for a variety of reasons including cancellation, the hearing has been postponed by the tribunal. It is not possible to separate out the reasons for the postponement. Therefore the table gives indicative figures for the total number of postponements by tribunals, of which cancellations will be a subset. 2. There were no postponements by tribunal recorded in Scotland in 2010-11; in 2009-10 there were 2. 3. Figures in the tables are rounded independently and thus may not add to totals. The following conventions have been used: values less than 100 remain as unit values; values from 100 to 999 are rounded to nearest ten; and values of 1,000 and over are rounded to the nearest hundred. Source: ET Central Database March 2012. 
		
	
	In relation to part (b), Employment Tribunal Offices are not required to collate and record this information and those that do, do not report the data so that it can be collated and held centrally. Accordingly, it is not possible to provide the information requested.
	In relation to part (c), Table 2 shows the number of “single”' cases that were listed for hearing within 26 weeks of receipt of the original claim.
	
		
			 Table 2: Single claims listed for hearing within 26 weeks of receipt for the last five financial years 
			 Financial year Single cases listed for hearing within 26 weeks of receipt 
			 2006-07 35,900 
			 2007-08 35,900 
			 2008-09 37,300 
			 2009-10 41,100 
			 2010-11 38,500 
			 Note s : 1. Data on the percentage of single accepted cases where the first hearing began within 26 weeks of receipt (rather than being listed within that period), and the employment tribunals' performance against the 75% target, is published regularly. The latest available information is available on the MOJ website. Source: ET Monthly Management Information report. 
		
	
	In relation to Part (d), table 3 shows hearings that were adjourned as a result of being part-heard.
	
		
			 Table 3: All part-heard hearings for the last five financial years 
			 Financial year Total hearings “part-heard” Full/final hearings “part-heard” 
			 2006-07 1,170 1,030 
			 2007-08 1,080 990 
			 2008-09 910 820 
			 2009-10 880 820 
			 2010-11 1,000 930 
			 Source: ET Central Database March 2012. 
		
	
	In relation to the timeliness of judgments, Table 4 shows the number of written judgments issued to parties within four weeks of the hearing date.
	
		
			 Table 4: Judgments issued within four weeks of the hearing date 
			 Financial year Number 
			 2006-07 8,600 
			 2007-08 8,100 
			 2008-09 8,500 
			 2009-10 9,200 
			 2010-11 9,100 
			 Source: ET Monthly Management Information report. 
		
	
	In relation to the final part of the question, in those cases where a pre-hearing review was listed, the average time from receipt of the claim to the pre-hearing review is outlined in table 5.
	
		
			 Table 5: Average time from receipt of claim to pre-hearing review 
			 Financial year Number of days 
			 2006-07 254 
			 2007-08 207 
			 2008-09 174 
			 2009-10 171 
			 2010-11 180

Employment Tribunals Service: Fees and Charges

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely ongoing costs of collection of fees in the employment tribunal system (a) in total and (b) as a proportion of estimated fee income;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the (a) IT and (b) other start-up costs of implementing a system to collect his proposed fees in the employment tribunal system;
	(3)  what steps he plans to take to ensure access to justice for vulnerable people if fees for employment tribunals are introduced.

Jonathan Djanogly: The information requested is as follows:
	Depending on which proposal is implemented, the initial impact assessment accompanying the fee-charging consultation estimated the ongoing cost of fee collection at £1-2 million per annum. The annual revenue after remissions has been estimated at £10-14 million respectively. All figures are quoted in 2011-12 prices,
	Therefore, as a proportion, initial estimates suggest that ongoing costs represent in the region of some 10-15% of the initial annual fee income.
	The initial impact assessment accompanying the fee-charging consultation estimated the total cost of implementation at £2 million at 2011-12 prices. A detailed breakdown of the various cost sub-categories is not available at this stage of policy development.
	The Government will ensure that their obligations to protect access to justice under article 6 of the European convention on human rights are fully adhered to when presenting their final proposals to Parliament.
	The consultation paper proposes to adopt the civil courts remission system of England and Wales so as to protect access to justice for those individuals who cannot afford to pay the proposed tribunal user fees, and the Government have invited comment on whether respondents believe that remission system fulfils those aims. A final decision on how the remission system will work will be made following consultation.
	An initial equality impact assessment was published alongside the consultation and can be found on the Ministry of Justice website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations

G4S

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether South Yorkshire Probation Trust in partnership with G4S will be allowed to tender for the management of HM Prison Lindholme, HM Prison Moorland and HM Prison Hatfield.

Crispin Blunt: We are expecting G4S to submit a bid for provision of Custodial Services and Works at HMP Lindholme, HMP Moorland and HMP Hatfield. It is open to bidders to work with other organisations in constructing their bids and in delivering their commitments if successful in this competition.

Harassment

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many allegations of harassment under the terms of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 were recorded by the police as crimes in financial year 2010-11.

Lynne Featherstone: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Home Department.
	The Home Office do not collect data from police forces on the number of allegations that are subsequently recorded by the police as a crime. However, the National Crime Recording Standard states that all incidents reported by a victim to the police should be recorded, if the events described amount to a crime in law and unless there is credible evidence to the contrary.
	In the financial year 2010-11, there were 51,200 offences of harassment recorded by the police in England and Wales.

HMP Lindholme

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether there will be a public-sector bid to operate HMP Lindholme, HMP Moorland and HMP Hatfield.

Crispin Blunt: Her Majesty's Prison Service (HMPS) responded to a pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) and were shortlisted to bid to operate HMP Lindholme, HMP Moorland and HMP Hatfield.

Iran

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many individuals were convicted of breaching sanctions on Iran in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: Data are not collated centrally on persons proceeded against under current legislation specifically related to sanctions on Iran. Other than where specified in a statute, centrally held information does not include all the circumstances of each case and from information on proceedings for offences of, for example, the illegal export of goods, it is not possible to identify the country of destination.

Legal Aid Scheme

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his Department's most recent estimate is of the savings which will accrue from the proposals in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill in respect of legal aid as a result of (a) increased use of telephone advice, (b) changes to the scope of family law help, (c) changes to the scope of family law representations, (d) changes to the scope of social welfare help, (e) changes to the scope of social welfare representation and (f) a 10% reduction in expert fees in each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period.

Jonathan Djanogly: The impact assessments published alongside the consultation response contain the most recent estimates of the potential impacts of the proposals based on the Bill as introduced to Parliament. We will publish a revised assessment following the conclusion of the parliamentary process.

Legal Services Commission

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has allocated to expenditure on (a) its headquarters, (b) the Legal Services Commission, (c) the National Offender Management Service and (d) the HM Courts and Tribunals Service in each year of the comprehensive spending review period.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Department's budget allocations for 2011-12 given in the following table are outlined in the Supplementary Estimate published on 8 February 2012.
	
		
			  Amount (£ million) 
			 Policy, Corporate Services and Associated Offices(1) 1,014 
			 Legal Services Commission (LSC) 2,174 
			 National Offender Management Service (NOMS) 3,595 
			 Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) 1,070 
			 (1) This category includes allocations for Prison Estates Function, Ministry of Justice wide ICT expenditure and Shared Service Functions. 
		
	
	The Department has not set budgets for the remaining years of the comprehensive spending review period. Budgets for 2012-13 onwards will be set as part of the Department's regular annual budget allocation process. Allocations will be made on the basis of need and according to departmental priorities.

Magistrates: Closures

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his Department's most recent estimate is of the savings which will accrue from the closure of 93 magistrates' courts and 49 county courts announced on 14 December 2010; and in which year of the comprehensive spending review period these savings are expected to be realised.

Jonathan Djanogly: Cumulative savings from the closure of the courts announced on 14 December 2010 are estimated at £60.6 million over the spending review period. It is anticipated that £4.1 million will be realised this year with £16.1 million next year and £19.6 million and £20.8 million in the following two years.
	In addition to the financial savings made there will also be capital proceeds from the sale of the court buildings. These are estimated at £36.3 million over the SR period.

Magistrates: Translation Services

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with (i) magistrates and (ii) members of the judiciary in England and Wales concerning Applied Language Solutions and the delivery of the contract for translation services;
	(2)  what representations he has received from (a) magistrates and (b) members of the judiciary in England and Wales concerning (i) Applied Language Solutions and (ii) the provision of interpreters in the Crown and magistrates' courts;
	(3)  what information (a) his Department and (b) HM Courts and Tribunals Service collects on the provision of interpretation services in courts; for what purposes; if he will place copies of such information in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice sought the views of a variety of key interested parties including the judiciary in developing the new arrangements for sourcing interpreters. Courts and Tribunals staff are in daily contact with members of the judiciary regarding the level of service provided since the contract commenced.
	As part of their contractual obligations under the framework the contractor is required to provide a range of information about the performance of the contract. The Ministry will consider what information it can usefully publish in due course.

Magistrates: Translation Services

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  whether his Department has prepared contingency plans in the event that Applied Language Solutions is unable to deliver the contract for the provision of translation services in courts;
	(2)  what steps (a) he and (b) his Department is taking in respect of the delivery of the contract for translation services by Applied Language Solutions.

Crispin Blunt: Once fully embedded the new arrangements for interpreters will provide better value for money for the public and will meet the needs of the justice system. Close monitoring of the national roll-out has ensured that an action plan to address the problems was in place within two weeks of the new interpreter service commencing on a national basis. Contingency arrangements to minimise the chance of disruption to court business are already in place.
	The contractor, Applied Language Solutions, is taking urgent action including providing additional staff to deal with bookings, further targeted recruitment of interpreters in key languages, some increases to payments for interpreters and improvements to the call handling and complaints process. Officials are meeting regularly with ALS to monitor the situation, and Ministers are receiving regular reports.

Office of Chief Coroner

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the proposed budget will be of the Office of Chief Coroner.

Jonathan Djanogly: The budget for the chief coroner's office will be dependent on the role and remit of the chief coroner and the constitution of his or her supporting office. These matters are the subject of ongoing discussions with the Judicial Office and so it is not possible to provide details of the proposed budget at this stage.

Prisoners: Sentencing

Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the (a) scope and (b) quality of the careers advice provided to prisoners on the conclusion of custodial sentences.

Crispin Blunt: “Making Prisons Work: skills for rehabilitation. A Review of Offender Learning”, published in May 2011, examined the efficiency and effectiveness of offender learning and skills services.
	Careers Information and Advice, including an assessment of learning needs, is undertaken at the beginning of a sentence to ensure that the learning and skills offer for prisoners can be linked to employment needs and aspirations. Access to the service is on-going throughout the sentence.
	The Careers Information and Advice Service (CIAS) delivered in prisons under the Offenders Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) contracts is confidential and impartial and supports offenders in making realistic and informed choices about their current and future learning and employment options. Advice given includes employment opportunities in the area in which the offender will resettle after release. Advisers take account of the frequent and unpredictable movement of offenders between prisons, before the completion of their agreed learning programme and liaise closely with other agencies, including the OLASS learning provider within the prison and resettlement teams, providers working 'through the gate', including Next Step, Jobcentre Plus and providers supporting offenders into employment through the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) European Social Fund projects.
	The advisers maintain a current understanding of the wider specialised areas of advice in the context of offenders, so that referrals are made that are appropriate to the circumstances of the individual and wherever possible, the offer is comparable with that in the mainstream. CIAS is available for all referred individuals.
	The providers of CIAS in prisons in England are required to meet the minimum quality requirements of holding and retaining the Matrix Standard. The Matrix Standard is the quality standard for organisations to assess and measure their advice and support services, which ultimately supports individuals in their choice of career.
	CIAS Providers are required by the Skills Funding Agency to use fully qualified advisors and a recent audit of adviser qualifications relating to delivering information, advice and guidance service to adults in custody is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			 Number of Staff whose highest qualification is level 6 or higher 24 
			 Number of staff whose highest qualification is level 4 or higher 50 
			 Number of staff whose highest qualification is level 3 or higher 23 
			 Number of staff working towards a level 3 3

Prisons: Yorkshire and the Humber

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether funding from the public purse will be used by the South Yorkshire Probation Trust in conjunction with G4S in drawing up their joint bid to manage the three prisons in South Yorkshire.

Crispin Blunt: South Yorkshire Probation Trust is funded to deliver, and is delivering, the probation services specified in its contract with the National Offender Management Service. It has not received additional funding to engage in business development work; however, it will have some capacity to work with others to develop innovative ways of working that improve efficiency and meet local need.

Reoffenders: Young Offenders

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people who were sentenced to a custodial sentence reoffended within 12 months of conviction in England and Wales between 2008 and 2011; and how many and what proportion of that figure were aged between 18 and 24 years;
	(2)  how many people who were sentenced to a community sentence reoffended within 12 months of conviction in England and Wales between 2008 and 2011; and how many and what proportion of that figure were aged between 18 and 24.

Crispin Blunt: The hon. Member’s question has been answered using the Ministry of Justice's published proven reoffending statistics, broken down further by the age of the offender. Proven reoffending is measured over a one year period from the point an offender receives their first court order or, in the case of custody, when they are released from prison.
	Table 1 shows the number of adult offenders (aged 18 or over), who were released from custody in 2008 and 2009 and the proportion of those aged between 18 and 24 years that reoffended within a 12 month period.
	
		
			  Offenders released from custody Reoffended 18 to 24-year-olds that reoffended Proportion of reoffenders that were 18 to 24-year-olds 
			 2008 65,051 31,991 11,579 36.2 
			 2009 63,832 29,857 10,844 36.3 
		
	
	Table 2 shows the same information for offenders who commenced a court order in 2008 and 2009.
	
		
			  Offenders starting a community sentence Reoffended 18 to 24-year-olds that reoffended Proportion of reoffenders that were 18 to 24-year-olds 
			 2008 143,611 51,328 21,382 41.7 
			 2009 147,298 50,756 21,016 41.4 
		
	
	Figures for 2010 and 2011 are not yet available.

The Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010

Frank Doran: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to bring into force the provisions of The Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010.

Jonathan Djanogly: No date has been set to bring the Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010 into force. The Ministry of Justice is examining whether the Act should be amended to include (a) all forms of administration and (b) debt relief orders in Northern Ireland before it is commenced. I will make a further statement about commencement before the summer recess.

Translation Services

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  whether his Department has requested the courts to compile lists of interpreters who will or will not work outside the Applied Language Solutions framework agreement; and for what purpose any such lists have been compiled;
	(2)  pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 5 July 2011, Official Report, columns 86-7WS, on interpretation and translation services, how the estimate of £18 million savings from his Department's adoption of the framework agreement on translation services was reached.

Crispin Blunt: The information is as follows:
	(1) Courts have not been asked to compile lists of interpreters who will or will not work outside the Ministry's Framework Agreement with Applied Language Solutions.
	(2) I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to this question on 28 February 2012, Official Report, column 190W.

Trespass: Crime

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to make trespassing a criminal offence.

Crispin Blunt: There is already an offence of aggravated trespass under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill includes provision to criminalise squatting in residential buildings. We have no plans to criminalise other forms of trespass.

EDUCATION

Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the operation of the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 in respect of the support provided to people after they have reached the age of 18.

Tim Loughton: The Government are committed to improving outcomes for this vulnerable group of young people. In 2010 we put in place revised regulations and new statutory guidance on support for care leavers. These are intended to improve the quality of support, and bring consistency so that all young people leaving care have the same opportunities to succeed as their peers. I meet care leaver groups on a regular basis to hear their views on the support they receive. The Department also consults the Children's Rights Director whose reports on children in care and care leavers are another valuable source of feedback on the support these young people receive.
	Key entitlements for care leavers include:
	the £2,000 higher education bursary for all eligible care leavers;
	a new 16 to 19 bursary scheme which will begin from the start of the 2011/12 academic year. Looked after young people and care leavers are guaranteed a £1,200 bursary if they continue in full-time education;
	consistent personal support from a suitably qualified personal adviser up to age 21 or beyond if in education; and
	care leavers up to age 25 who return to education or training also benefit from the support of a personal adviser while they are on their agreed course.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what reduction in carbon dioxide emissions his Department has made under the 10:10 initiative.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education achieved a 21.5% reduction in carbon emissions as part of the Prime Minister's 10% carbon reduction commitment.
	This equates to a reduction of 2,124 tonnes of CO2.

Departmental Internet

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what public services his Department delivers online only.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education publishes key school performance data online only to support parental choice when selecting a school for their child at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/
	as well as a database of educational establishments across England and Wales at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/edubase

Departmental Pay

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible are paid (i) £100,000 and (ii) £142,500 or more per annum.

Tim Loughton: Information for the Department and its arm's length bodies can be found on the transparency pages on the Department's website:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/departmental information/transparency/b0065313/disclosure-of-scs-posts-and-salary-inforrnation

Departmental Regulation

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress his Department has made on the Red Tape Challenge; and which regulations have been (a) abolished and (b) revised as part of the Challenge.

Tim Loughton: To date, of over 1,200 regulations considered so far under Red Tape Challenge, we have agreed to scrap or substantially overhaul well over half. The 123 Red Tape Challenge reforms made, or about to be made, so far are set out in the Government's latest Statement of New Regulation. We are considering which DfE regulations can be removed or improved through the RTC process and will publish the outcome in due course.

Departmental Senior Civil Servants

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many senior civil servants left his Department and its public bodies in each month since May 2010; what their names are; what the rate of turnover of senior civil servants in his Department was during this period; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: Information that can be made available for the Department is set out in the following table (as at 31 January 2012):
	
		
			  Number of senior staff leavers 
			 May 2010 1 
			 July 2010 1 
			 August 2010 1 
			 September 2010 1 
			 October 2010 1 
			 December 2010 1 
			 January 2011 1 
			 February 2011 1 
			 July 2011 3 
			 August 2011 1 
			 December 2011 4 
		
	
	The turnover rate for the Department over the period is 13.44%.
	Information for the Department's arm's length bodies is a matter for them and is not held centrally. Workforce information is published for the Department and its arm's length bodies from March 2011 and can be found on the transparency pages of the Department's website:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/departmentalinformation/transparency/a00199711/monthly-workforce-management-information
	Any changes in the workforce numbers may not solely reflect senior staff leaving their organisations.

Schools

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many secondary schools there are in (a) Bexley, (b) Bournemouth, (c) Buckinghamshire, (d) Kent, (e) Kingston upon Thames, (f) Lincolnshire, (g) Medway, (h) Poole, (i) Reading, (j) Slough, (k) Southend, (l) Sutton, (m) Torbay, (n) Trafford and (o) Wirral local education authority areas; and how each school is designated in performance tables.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			 Number and designation of schools in specific local authority areas based on the performance tables 
			  Academy and free schools Community Community special Foundation Foundation special General further education college Non-maintained special 
			 Bexley — 4 3 6 — 1 — 
			 Bournemouth — — 2 7 — — — 
			 Buckinghamshire — 18 10 10 — — 1 
		
	
	
		
			 Kent 1 18 23 52 1 1 5 
			 Kingston upon Thames — 2 2 5 1 — — 
			 Lincolnshire 1 16 15 27 1 — — 
			 Medway — 4 2 8 — — — 
			 Poole — 3 2 4 1 — 2 
			 Reading — — 2 5 — — — 
			 Slough — 2 2 5 — — — 
			 Southend-on-Sea 1 1 4 8 1 — — 
			 Sutton — 5 3 6 — — 1 
			 Torbay — 1 3 6 — — — 
			 Trafford 1 1 3 12 — — 1 
			 Wirral — 10 5 8 — — 1 
			 Total 4 85 81 169 5 2 11 
		
	
	
		
			  Other independent Other independent special Sponsored academy Voluntary aided Voluntary controlled Total 
			 Bexley — — 4 3 — 21 
			 Bournemouth 3 — 2 1 — 15 
			 Buckinghamshire 22 4 2 2 3 72 
			 Kent 41 33 16 11 3 205 
			 Kingston upon Thames 5 — — 3 — 18 
			 Lincolnshire 8 6 8 4 3 89 
			 Medway 3 2 4 1 1 25 
			 Poole 1 — 1 1 — 15 
			 Reading 6 — 1 1 — 15 
			 Slough 2 — 1 2 1 15 
			 Southend-on-Sea 2 3 — 2 — 22 
			 Sutton 3 1 — 3 — 22 
			 Torbay 3 1 — 1 — 15 
			 Trafford 3 1 — 4 — 26 
			 Wirral 2 — 2 4 — 32 
			 Total 104 51 41 43 11 607 
			 Notes: 1. Data is as it was published in the 2011 performance tables. Schools are classed as secondary if their lower age range is less than 16 and their higher age range is greater or equal to 13. They may not have pupils at the end of key stage 4. 2. Where schools have converted to an academy since 12 September 2010, they have been published both as their predecessor school and as the newly converted academy, and their attainment data has been published under the name of the predecessor school. For this analysis, the predecessor school’s designation has been counted.

Schools: Sports

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many school sports co-ordinators were in post in (a) September 2009, (b) September 2010, (c) September 2011 and (d) on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 20 February 2012
	The information requested is not collected centrally.

Schools: Sports

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the Government's publication, Creating a Sporting Habit for Life: a new youth sport strategy, whether he has any plans to make participation in sport compulsory in schools after the age of 16 years.

Tim Loughton: There are no plans to make National Curriculum physical education (PE) compulsory after the age of 16. The intention is that the review of National Curriculum PE will embed PE and competitive sport in schools by the age of 16, supported by the School Games. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media, Olympics and Sport's new Youth Sport strategy will then encourage young people aged 14 to 25 to move from school and education based sport to sport in clubs and the community.

Self-Control: Curriculum

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department has invested in research into the effect of self-control on children's well-being and educational attainment.

Tim Loughton: The Department has not funded specific research into the effect of self-control on children's well-being and educational attainment, but three studies over the past five years have considered related issues as part of broader research. Two of these were specific evaluations, costing £560,000 in total. The third is an ongoing longitudinal study with a much broader scope, where it is not possible to identify funding on the specific relationship between self-control and well-being or attainment.
	The UK Resilience Programme (UKRP)
	An evaluation of the UK Resilience Programme (UKRP) investigated whether the programme had a short and/or long-term impact on pupils' well-being (resilience to depression and anxiety) and on school-related outcomes (e.g. attainment or attendance).
	The UKRP aimed to improve children's psychological well-being by building resilience and promoting accurate thinking. It was launched in three local authorities in 2007-08 with workshops delivered to year 7 pupils in secondary schools.
	UKRP was a modification of the Penn Resiliency Programme (PRP) curriculum developed by the University of Pennsylvania. The UK programme included the teaching of behavioural coping and social problem-solving techniques, and techniques for self-control. Pupil well-being and other outcome data were collected in July 2009 and July 2010, when pupils were in years 8 and 9 respectively. The final report was published by the Department in April 2011.
	The evaluation cost £338,153 over four years.
	Secondary SEAL
	An evaluation of the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) programme in secondary schools ran from 2007-08 to 2010-11. The programme aimed to support the development of children's emotional intelligence. One of the five social and emotional skills promoted was self-regulation, defined in this study as “managing how we express emotions, coping with and changing difficult and uncomfortable feelings, and increasing and enhancing positive and pleasant feelings”.
	The evaluation examined the impact of whole-school SEAL on whole year-groups of pupils and looked at outcomes including attainment and mental health difficulties. The final report was published by the Department in October 2010.
	The evaluation cost £221,057 over four years.
	The Effective Pre-school Primary and Secondary Education project
	The Effective Pre-school Primary and Secondary Education project (EPPSE) started in 1997. It initially aimed to identify the impact of pre-school provision on a national sample of children between the ages of three and seven. Since then the study has been extended in phases to follow the same sample of 3,000 children through primary and secondary schooling. Pupils are currently aged 15 to 19.
	The study has investigated both attainment and social/behavioural development at each key stage. Self-regulation (defined in this study as covering problem-solving, motivation, self-confidence and assertiveness) is one of four social/behavioural outcomes used. Self-regulation has been found to be a crucial skill for learning in both primary and secondary phases of learning.
	Relevant publications from this ongoing longitudinal study include three reports summarising influences on attainment and social development up to age 14, published in February 2012.
	Since the issue of self-regulation is a small, but integral part of this complex study, it is not possible to identify the specific funding invested in this issue.

Special Educational Needs: Autism

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to ensure teachers can support children diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder.

Sarah Teather: All teachers should have the skills to address children's special educational needs, including children with autistic spectrum disorders, or know where to get advice in order to do so. New school special educational needs (SEN) co-ordinators must now undergo training. That includes training on the different types of SEN, including autistic spectrum disorders.
	We consulted on a Green Paper, “Support and aspiration: a new approach to special educational needs and disability”, last year. It explained that outstanding special schools, including those which provide for children with autism, will be able to apply to become teaching schools, developing their own staff alongside staff in schools throughout their network and sharing their expertise. The Green Paper also made a commitment to boost the availability of advanced level SEN continuous professional development for teachers. The Government will make available from March 2012 free, advanced-level training materials focused on autism and three other types of SEN. These resources will be nationally recognised at Masters-level equivalence so that they could be used for accredited professional development.
	The Government are also, through a Voluntary and Community Sector Grant programme, funding the Autism Education Trust to the tune of some £1.2 million over 2011-12 and 2012-13, to develop national standards for the education of children with autism and providing tiered training through local hubs, with universal training for staff who work with autistic children, enhanced training for teachers and specialist training for SEN co-ordinators.

Special Educational Needs: Dyslexia

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to identify and support children with dyslexia.

Sarah Teather: The Government are committed to ensuring that support is available to every school for the teaching of systematic synthetic phonics, which has been shown to be effective in teaching dyslexic pupils to read. In June this year we are introducing a new phonics screening check for children in year one. This should identify those children who have not met the expected standards, some of whom may have additional difficulties such as dyslexia.
	3,200 teachers have accessed specialist dyslexia training. We are developing specialist resources for initial teacher training and supporting teachers to obtain postgraduate qualifications through our National Scholarship Fund for teachers. These measures will enhance teachers' knowledge, understanding and skills and support them to identify dyslexic pupils earlier.
	We have awarded a grant to Dyslexia-Specific Learning Difficulty Trust in 2011-12 to raise awareness and support parents and schools. We also provided a grant for Dyslexia Action (with the RNIB) to make more than 650 core texts available in digital format for dyslexic pupils or those with visual impairment.

Vocational Guidance

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of the average number of careers advice appointments on offer per pupil per year for secondary school students in England in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 1 March 2012
	This information is not held centrally. Records of appointments with Connexions personal advisers were previously held but did not include details of subjects discussed. Specific information on careers advice cannot therefore be provided.
	From September, schools will be placed under a new duty to secure access to independent and impartial careers guidance on the full range of 16 to 18 education and training options. This recognises that schools are best placed to make decisions based on the needs and circumstances of their pupils, working in partnership with expert careers providers as appropriate.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Azerbaijan

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Azerbaijan on respect for human rights.

David Lidington: Ministers and senior officials regularly raise concerns over human rights, democratic values and the rule of law with the Azerbaijani Government. I personally have raised these issues with Azerbaijani Ministers on several occasions. I welcome Azerbaijan’s decision to orient itself towards European standards and structures. This will involve implementing reforms that improve human rights, including in areas such as freedom of the media and freedom of association. We work with the EU, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe and others to support reforms and are clear that we want to help Azerbaijan realise international standards.

Burma

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) electoral, (b) censorship and (c) security laws in Burma on the potential for free and fair elections.

Jeremy Browne: We welcome any steps taken by the Burmese authorities that may improve the prospects for credible and inclusive political participation. Recent amendments to the Political Parties Registration Law, including removing the ban on serving prisoners being members of a political party addresses one of the National League for Democracy’s (NLD) key concerns and allowed Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD to re-register to contest the upcoming by-election in April.
	The NLD have raised concerns about difficulties they have encountered while campaigning in recent weeks, including an apparent ban on rallies in sports stadiums. Despite the Union Election Commission’s rapid response allowing some rallies to take place, we note that the ban on use of sports stadiums still appears to be in place.
	In recent months we have seen some welcome changes to the censorship system, and I hope to see further relaxation of media restrictions when the draft media law is finalised.
	The international community will be carefully scrutinising all aspects of the conduct of the 1 April by-elections, not only on polling day and advance voting, but throughout the full campaign process. Post-election, we hope to see the strong involvement of the opposition as the reform process goes forward.

Burma

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Burma’s compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions 1325 and 1820.

Jeremy Browne: The human rights situation in Burma and its compliance with UN Security Council resolutions 1325 and 1820 remains a serious concern, particularly in the areas of the country where there is ethnic conflict. Limited access to these areas makes the provision of humanitarian assistance and collection of accurate data problematic.
	We have continued to receive reports of gender-based violence by the military in the conflict areas. The Burmese Government has done little to investigate these cases. During Burma’s Universal Periodic Review session at the UN, we urged the Government to prosecute those responsible for human rights violations. We have supported UN statements calling on the Burmese Government to take urgent measures to end the targeting of civilians in military operations, and rape and other forms of sexual violence.
	During his recent visit to Burma, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), made it very clear to the Burmese Government that humanitarian access to conflict areas, as well as a clear process of national reconciliation were some of the benchmarks by which we and the EU would assess whether EN restrictive measures should be eased.

Cambodia

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on (a) the human rights record of Cambodia, (b) Cambodia's application for membership of the UN Security Council and (c) the eviction of the Borei Keila community in Phnom Penh.

Jeremy Browne: We continue to discuss all these issues with a range of international partners, including in the EU and UN.
	We also have a constructive and ongoing dialogue with the Royal Government of Cambodia on human rights issues and Cambodia's application for membership of the UN Security Council. Most recently our ambassador in Phnom Penh discussed human rights, including the eviction of the Borei Keila, with a number of senior Cambodian Ministers. We also support the work of the UN's Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia and welcome his work to help the Royal Government of Cambodia address human rights concerns.
	We welcome discussions with any member states bidding for a seat on the UN Security Council. However, we emphasise, at all such discussions, that the UK's long-standing policy is not to reveal our voting intentions for these elections.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Elections

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the mission to investigate the administration of the November 2011 presidential and legislative elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Henry Bellingham: A mission of experts from the US National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) was in the DRC between 5-13 January. They were sent to investigate the feasibility of donors providing further technical assistance to the DRC electoral commission (CENI). The mission recommended that there should be a review of the electoral process and that they were willing to help CENI carry this out. Britain also continues to urge CENI conduct a full and transparent review.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Elections

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to meet representatives of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to discuss the presidential and legislative elections held in November 2011 before the 2012 provincial elections.

Henry Bellingham: I am ready to meet representatives of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to discuss a range of issues, including the recent elections. I expect to have the opportunity to do so soon.
	The British ambassador to the DRC engages regularly with senior representatives of the DRC Government, with whom he continues to discuss the reforms required in advance of the provincial and local elections.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reduction in carbon dioxide emissions his Department has made under the 10:10 initiative.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) signed up its UK operations to the 10:10 initiative. In addition 82 FCO posts signed up separately to 10:10.
	For its UK operations, the FCO cut emissions from the four 10:10 categories of flights, road vehicles, electricity and fossil fuels by a total of 13,623 tonnes of CO2 in 2010; a cut of 19% compared to 2009.
	We are aware of at least 21 posts which cut their CO2 by over 10% in total across the four categories and of other posts that cut by at least 10% in one or more categories. Examples of 10:10 carbon reductions in one year at posts around the world include: British embassy La Paz: cut 72%, Brazil network of posts: cut 57% , British embassy Beijing: cut 48%, British embassy Washington: cut 10%, British high commission Abuja: cut 22% and British embassy Copenhagen: cut 23%.

Departmental Recruitment

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) ambassadors, (b) high commissioners, (c) deputy ambassadors and (d) deputy high commissioners have served in the armed forces.

Henry Bellingham: These data are not readily available. It would incur a disproportionate cost to find this information out.

Departmental Secondment

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Scottish Government civil servants were seconded into his Department in each year since 2006.

Henry Bellingham: Since 2008 there have been five Scottish Government civil servants on inward loan (interchange) to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). All of these officers were appointed through fair and open competition to positions that were advertised across the civil service. We are however unable to provide the number of officers per year as this could identify individual staff, and potentially breach data protection principles. The FCO does not have centrally-held records of these appointments before 2008, these cannot be obtained without incurring a disproportionate cost.

Fossil Fuels: Subsidies

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding from his Department's Prosperity Fund programme was allocated to fossil fuel subsidy reform projects in the latest period for which figures are available.

Henry Bellingham: In 2011-12 three-quarters of the Prosperity Fund will be spent tackling climate change and strengthening energy security, targeting projects which deliver the greatest impact. Of this the Prosperity Fund is financing fossil fuel subsidy reform projects in India and Indonesia worth £234,023 and we are open to doing more, where there are opportunities to take forward this work with others.
	Aside from the Prosperity Fund, we have strongly supported the G20 initiative to rationalise and phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that promote wasteful consumption and will continue to work through the G20 to seek progress on these issues.

Grace and Favour Housing

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Ministers in his Department have the use of grace and favour homes.

David Lidington: I refer to the statement made by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 29 February 2012, Official Report, columns 387-88W.

Libya: Embassies

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff are based at the British embassy in Tripoli; and how many of those are attached to UK Trade and Investment.

Alistair Burt: There are approximately 90 staff at our embassy in Libya. Of these, approximately 10 staff members have a UKTI remit.

North Korea

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions his Department has had with the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea;
	(2)  with reference to the report to the UN Human Rights Council by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in that country.

Jeremy Browne: Neither Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers nor officials have had any recent meetings with Mr Marzuki Darusman, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. However, FCO officials hope to meet Mr Darusman when he presents to the Human Rights Council on 12 March and will support and endorse his report.
	I met the North Korean ambassador to the UK on 29 February and made clear to him that the UK remains very concerned about the humanitarian and human rights situation in North Korea. This is why the UK regularly co-sponsors an annual North Korea-specific resolution in the UN General Assembly on human rights. It is also why we welcomed last month's report to the UN Human Rights Council by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in North Korea. We continue to urge North Korea to allow the UN Special Rapporteur to North Korea to be allowed to visit the country to assess the situation.

Pakistan: British Nationals Abroad

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens were murdered in Pakistan in each of the last five years.

Alistair Burt: Our figures show we dealt with 36 cases involving the murder of British citizens in Pakistan over the past five years. The number of instances per year is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2007 3 
			 2008 5 
			 2009 7 
			 2010 11 
			 2011 10

Palestinians: Elections

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the prospects for elections in the Palestinian Authority in May 2012.

Alistair Burt: The UK, along with our EU partners, fully supports the holding of free and fair elections across the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.
	We are following closely the implementation of the agreement reached on 6 February 2012 between Fatah and Hamas on the formation of a technocratic government, to be led by President Abbas, to prepare for elections.
	Any technocratic government should: be composed of figures committed to the principles set by President Abbas in Cairo in May 2011; uphold the principle of non-violence; be committed to a negotiated two-state solution, and accept previous agreements of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation.
	It will be important that all sides work to ensure that the conditions are in place for the holding of free and fair elections.

Russian Language

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with the European Union on the status of the Russian language as an official EU language.

David Lidington: No discussions have been held with the European Union on the status of the Russian language as an official EU language. Currently Russian is not recognised as an official language in any EU country so cannot be considered for official EU language status.

Russian Language

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Latvia on the status of the Russian language within that country.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) continues to engage with the Latvian Government on the integration of minorities. The FCO has not discussed the status of the Russian language as an official language with the Latvian Government. This is in an internal matter for the Latvian people. However, in Latvia’s Universal Periodic Review in 2011, we inquired about measures planned under the State Programme for the Integration of Society which aims to further the integration of ethnic minority groups.

Sri Lanka

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of steps by the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure a long-term post-conflict political settlement in that country.

Alistair Burt: The UK sees a political settlement, respect for human rights and accountability for alleged war crimes as being essential elements in post-conflict reconciliation in Sri Lanka.
	The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), which was appointed by the Sri Lankan Government to examine events relating to the civil war from 2002 to 2009, published its report on 16 December. We believe the report contains many constructive recommendations for action on post-conflict reconciliation and a political settlement. But we were disappointed by the findings and recommendations on accountability. We encourage the Sri Lankan Government to move quickly to implement the LLRC report's recommendations.

Sudan: Sanctions

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to lift trade sanctions on Sudan.

Henry Bellingham: There are no trade sanctions in place for Sudan in the UK or the EU. There remains a UN arms embargo on the states of north, south, west, eastern and central Darfur and an EU arms embargo on the whole of Sudan, both of which the UK implements robustly. There is no intention to lift the arms embargoes.

Uganda

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on gay rights in Uganda; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: We are aware that a private Member's Bill on Anti Homosexuality has been tabled.
	We have raised our concerns about the Bill at the most senior levels of the Ugandan Government and will continue to do so. We will continue to support Ugandan civil society groups campaigning for lesbian, gay, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) rights. The Bill is a private Member's Bill and has not been adopted by the Ugandan Government.

Western Sahara

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to raise with the Moroccan Government the issue of freedom of expression for people calling for independence in occupied Western Sahara.

Jeremy Browne: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised the issue of freedom of expression in Western Sahara with the Moroccan Government during his visit to Morocco in October 2011. Our ambassador in Rabat regularly discusses human rights in Western Sahara with Morocco's newly elected government.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Constituencies: Parliament

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the reorganisation of parliamentary constituencies in Wales carried out by the Boundary Commission for Wales.

Mark Harper: The Government's current estimate of the cost of undertaking the boundary review in Wales under the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 is £1.7 million.

House of Lords: Reform

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the likely effect of Scottish separation from the United Kingdom on eligibility of existing peers to retain seats in the House of Lords.

Mark Harper: Scotland remains an integral part of the United Kingdom and the Government can only proceed on the current constitutional framework.

House of Lords: Reform

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on reform of the House of Lords.

Mark Harper: There have been no official discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on House of Lords reform.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Energy Supply: Mobile Homes

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent representations he has received on statutory easements enabling gas and electricity companies to connect park home owners to the mains supply.

Gregory Barker: I have not received any recent representations on this issue.

Energy: Housing

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations he has received from landlords of the least energy efficient properties on the steps they must take to comply with regulations on energy improvement under the Energy Act 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: We have corresponded with a number of the organisations representing landlords regarding the private rented sector provisions in the Energy Act 2011. This includes the National Landlord Association and the Residential Landlord Association. We intend to engage the sector more broadly ahead of making secondary legislation in this area.

Energy: Meters

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on making the installation of smart meters mandatory.

Charles Hendry: Smart meters will be rolled out as standard across the country by 2019, but it will not be a legal obligation on individuals to have one.
	The roll-out of smart meters is an important national modernisation programme, which will bring big benefits to consumers, as well as the nation. We therefore expect consumers to welcome their installation.

Fuel Poverty Review

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when his Department plans to publish its response to the Independent Fuel Poverty Review.

Gregory Barker: We expect the final report of the independent review to be published shortly and will make a statement at that time of the Government's intentions.

Green Deal Scheme

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on a transition period for the introduction of the Green Deal; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: The Green Deal is a market driven mechanism, with Government responsible for implementing a legislative framework. The Department is working closely with a wide range of stakeholders who will be delivering the Green Deal (including energy suppliers, financiers and potential Green Deal providers, assessors and installers) to ensure that they are in a position to make Green Deals happen from autumn 2012.

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on employee and employer tax efficiency in relation to the Green Deal.

Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), has many meetings with Cabinet colleagues on a number of topics, including taxation.

Housing: Insulation

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what projection he has made of the number of Solid Wall Insulation installations in the social housing sector under the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation in (a) 2013, (b) 2014 and (c) 2015.

Gregory Barker: Social housing is very well placed to benefit from solid wall insulation under the Green Deal and ECO due to the experience the sector has of carrying out major works and the economies of scale that can be generated. The impact assessment, which accompanied the recent Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation consultation, included estimates for the delivery of solid wall insulation in social housing and these reflect the important role social housing can play in the Green Deal. The estimates are summarised in table 1.
	
		
			 Table 1: Installations of SWI in social housing properties from 2013 to 2015 
			  SWI in social housing 
			 2013 68,413 
			 2014 82,090 
			 2015 74,607 
		
	
	The consultation impact assessment can be found here:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/green-deal/3603-green-deal-eco-ia.pdf
	We are working with stakeholders to improve the data on which the Impact assessment was based and updated analysis will be published in the summer.

Local Energy Assessment Fund

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many applications for funding from the Local Energy Assessment Fund have been (a) submitted, (b) accepted and (c) rejected.

Gregory Barker: The Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF) awarded grants undertaking energy efficiency and feasibility work in two phases during the period from December 2011 and March 2012.
	The total number of LEAF applications was 593 and the number of successful LEAF bids was 237. The number of unsuccessful bids was 356. The overall success rate for LEAF applications under both phases was 38%.

Renewable Energy

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what the year-on-year percentage change was in the energy generated from onshore wind in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009, (e) 2010 and (f) 2011;
	(2)  what the year-on-year percentage change was in the energy generated from offshore wind in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009, (e) 2010 and (f) 2011;
	(3)  what the year-on-year percentage change was in the energy generated from tidal sources in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009, (e) 2010 and (f) 2011;
	(4)  what the year-on-year percentage change was in the energy generated from small-scale hydro sources in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009, (e) 2010 and (f) 2011;
	(5)  what the year-on-year percentage change was in the energy generated from large-scale hydro sources in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009, (e) 2010 and (f) 2011;
	(6)  what the year-on-year percentage change was in the energy generated from landfill gas in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009, (e) 2010 and (f) 2011;
	(7)  what the year-on-year percentage change was in the energy generated from sewage sludge digestion in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009, (e) 2010 and (f) 2011;
	(8)  what the year-on-year percentage change was in the energy generated from municipal solid wall combustion in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009, (e) 2010 and (f) 2011;
	(9)  what the year-on-year percentage change was in the energy generated from animal biomass in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009, (e) 2010 and (f) 2011;
	(10)  what the year-on-year percentage change was in the energy generated from plant biomass in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009, (e) 2010 and (f) 2011;
	(11)  how much (a) onshore wind, (b) offshore wind, (c) tidal, (d) small-scale hydro, (e) large-scale hydro, (f) landfill gas, (g) sewage sludge digestion, (h) municipal solid wall combustion, (i) animal biomass and (j) plant biomass energy generation capacity was installed in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007, (iii) 2008, (iv) 2009, (v) 2010 and (vi) 2011.

Charles Hendry: Statistics on the generation capacity at the end of the calendar years 2006 to 2010 inclusive and the total amount of electricity generated during those years is available in table 7.4 of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2011 edition, copies of which are available in the House Library, and on the Department’s website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/publications/dukes/dukes.aspx
	Provisional estimates of capacity and generation data covering the first nine months of 2011 are published in table 6.1 of the December 2011 edition of Energy Trends, copies of which are available in the House Library, and on the Department’s website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/publications/trends/trends.aspx
	A provisional 2011 calendar year figure will be contained in the March 2012 edition of Energy Trends, which will be published on 29 March 2012, with final figures contained within the 2012 edition of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics, which will be published on 26 July 2012.
	Percentage changes in generation by main technology categories and yearly capacity changes during the period 2006 to 2010, derived from the data published in table 7.4 of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics are shown below. Year on year changes in generation are impacted by both changes in capacity and by external factors such as amount of rainfall and average wind speed.
	
		
			 Capacity installed (1)  during the year 
			 MW 
			  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Wind:      
			 Onshore 299.5 432.7 736.8 663.0 553.4 
			 Offshore 90.0 90.0 192.2 355.2 400.0 
			 Shoreline wave/tidal — — — 2.0 0.1 
			 Solar photovoltaics 3.4 3.8 4.4 4.0 50.4 
			       
			 Hydro:      
			 Small scale -4.6 12.9 7.1 13.0 9.1 
			 Large scale 18.2 -2.7 97.8 2.0 -5.6 
			       
			 Biomass:      
			 Landfill gas 38.4 44.5 7.7 76.6 39.7 
			 Sewage sludge digestion 5.9 6.4 -2.6 9.3 32.3 
			 Municipal solid waste combustion 11.9 -0.0 49.5 16.1 43.4 
			 Animal Biomass 2.3 25.5 — 4.9 19.3 
			 Plant Biomass 32.9 57.0 8.2 80.9 30.3 
			 Total biomass and wastes 91.4 133.4 62.8 187.7 165.0 
			       
			 Total 497.9 670.0 1,101.1 1,226.8 1,172.4 
			       
			 Co-firing 1.4 -62.6 -20.8 27.8 135.5 
			 (1) These figures represent net change in capacity, i.e. capacity of new installations minus capacity decommissioned. 
		
	
	
		
			 Percentage change in generation 
			 % 
			  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Wind:      
			 Onshore 42.9 25.7 29.0 30.6 -5.6 
			 Offshore(2) 61.7 20.1 66.8 33.3 75.0 
			 Solar photovoltaics 30.8 30.9 21.4 17.6 66.2 
			       
			 Hydro:      
			 Small scale 7.6 11.9 6.3 5.3 -14.5 
			 Large scale -8.1 10.7 1.0 1.4 -33.7 
			       
			 Biomass:      
			 Landfill gas 3.1 5.7 1.7 4.1 1.7 
			 Sewage sludge digestion -4.5 1.0 18.4 12.5 17.4 
			 Municipal solid waste combustion 12.4 8.7 4.1 23.2 5.5 
			 Co-firing with fossil fuels -0.2 -22.6 -17.5 12.0 38.7 
			 Animal Biomass -7.2 27.9 5.7 5.6 8.0 
			 Plant Biomass -5.0 12.7 38.9 95.3 26.8 
			 Total biomass 1.9 -0.6 0.6 14.2 12.4 
			       
			 Total generation 6.9 8.3 10.0 16.8 2.2 
			       
			 Non-biodegradable wastes 12.5 8.7 4.1 18.7 5.5 
			 (2) Generation of electricity from shoreline wave and tidal is included within the offshore wind row; total generation from shoreline wave and tidal amounts of less than 2 GWh.

Renewable Energy: Heating

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for the domestic renewable heat premium payment after 1 April 2012.

Gregory Barker: We are considering how to support renewable heat for householders following the end of the current RHPP period.

Renewables Obligation: Finance

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much of the renewables obligation budget for the year 2010-11 has not been spent.

Charles Hendry: The RO scheme is demand-led and the level of RO support in 2010-11, as for future years, depended on the predicted level of renewables generation. There was no budget for 2010-11 but the total cost of the scheme in that year was £1,285 million in 2010-11 prices.
	Since 2011-12, the RO has formed part of the Levy Control Framework, within the Government's public spending framework, which forms the mechanism by which Government control the total amount that can be levied on consumer electricity bills. Information on the Levy Control Framework is available on the DECC website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/funding-support/fuel-poverty/3290-control-fwork-decc-levyfunded-spending.pdf

Solar Power

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how the deployment of solar photovoltaic technologies will be used to support his Department's commitment to community-owned energy projects.

Gregory Barker: As part of the Feed-in-tariffs scheme Phase 2B consultation, DECC is currently consulting on a proposed definition of community” projects and on how that definition might be used to benefit community schemes. The consultation can be found at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/fits_rev_ph2b/fits_rev_ph2b.aspx
	and is open for comments until 26 April 2012. I have also established a Community Energy Contact Group to consider wider issues around community energy.

Solar Power: Social Rented Housing

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration his Department has given to the merits of using solar pv panels in the social housing sector.

Gregory Barker: The Feed-in-tariffs scheme Phase 2B consultation is currently consulting on a proposed definition of “community” projects that could include social housing, and on how that definition might be used to benefit such schemes. The consultation can be found at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/fits_rev _ph2b/fits_rev_ph2b.aspx
	and is open for comments until 26 April 2012.

Warm Homes Discount Scheme

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2012, Official Report, column 833W, on the Warm Homes Discount Scheme, what estimate his Department has made of the average level of financial support that will be provided to low-income and vulnerable households beyond the core group.

Gregory Barker: In 2011-12 energy suppliers are required to spend £153 million providing support to low income and vulnerable households beyond the core group.
	Within this set total suppliers have a degree of discretion over how this support is provided. As the first year of the scheme represents a transition from the previous voluntary agreement, suppliers may spend up to £150 million providing legacy forms of support such as social and discounted tariffs and on industry initiatives (which provide support such as energy advice and debt relief to those at risk of fuel poverty).
	Within the total of £153 million, suppliers are required to spend a minimum of £3 million on providing electricity bill rebates of £120 to low income and vulnerable households through the broader group. If suppliers spend less than £150 million on legacy support and industry initiatives, they must make up this spending through an increase in spend on the broader group.
	The impact assessment published for the Warm Home Discount scheme made an assessment of the average level of support that would be provided to groups beyond the core group. Those assisted through the broader group will receive a rebate of £120 and we estimate that those assisted under legacy spending through support such as discounted tariffs will receive on average £89.

Wind Power: Yorkshire and the Humber

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on the number of wind turbines the National Grid has ordered to be shut down in (a) Skipton and Ripon constituency, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) the Yorkshire and Humber region during periods of high wind.

Charles Hendry: The Department does not hold the information requested. However, National Grid has advised that it has not ordered any wind turbines in the areas mentioned to be shut down during periods of high wind.

CABINET OFFICE

Action for Employment

Liam Byrne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when allegations of fraud at A4e were drawn to the attention of his Department's Propriety and Ethics team.

Francis Maude: As has long been the practice, information relating to internal discussion and advice is not normally disclosed.

Children: North West

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many children in Leeds North West constituency were living in workless households in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many children in Leeds North West constituency are living in workless households. 097871.
	It is not possible to provide reliable estimates from the Annual Population Survey (APS) for the Leeds North West parliamentary constituency because the sample sizes are not sufficiently large. Estimates for the Leeds Local Authority District show that there were 30 thousand children in workless households in 2010.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty as different samples give different results. The estimate provided is such that there is 95 per cent certainty that from all samples possible the number of children in workless households in the Leeds local authority would likely be between 25 and 34 thousand.

Department of Health

John Healey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what plans he has to further review the Department of Health’s capabilities; and what further assessment and development actions will be taken in respect of the underperformance as assessed by the regulatory Policy Committee report on Rating Regulation of July 2011;
	(2)  what the findings of the most recent capability assessment were of the Department of Health under the headings of leadership, strategy and delivery.

Francis Maude: The Department of Health has undertaken a review of its capability using the revised Model of Capability. The assessment is Department-led, and the report is owned by the Department of Health.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Caroline Flint: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what reduction in carbon dioxide emissions his Department has made under the 10:10 initiative.

Francis Maude: The Cabinet Office did not take part in the 10:10 initiative. However, in the 12 months to May 2011, the Department reduced its carbon emissions by 1,226 tonnes, a drop of 14.5%, exceeding the Prime Minister’s requirement to cut carbon emissions by 10% from central Government.

Departmental Responsibilities

John Healey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance his Department issues on the communication of risks by (a) Government Departments and (b) agencies for which they are responsible.

Francis Maude: My Department follows HM Treasury’s guidance on risk management, and in addition has published statutory guidance “Emergency Preparedness”, for organisations assigned duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, available at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/emergency-preparedness

Employment: Private Sector

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the net change in the number of private sector jobs was in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire, (c) the east midlands and (d) England in 2011.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the net change in the number of private sector jobs was in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire, (c) the East Midlands and (d) England in 2011. (098211)
	Private sector employment statistics for local areas can be calculated from the Annual Population Survey (APS). Individuals in the APS are classified to the public or private sector according to their responses to the survey
	Table 1 shows the net changes in private sector employment in England, East Midlands, Nottinghamshire and Ashfield constituency between the 12 month APS periods ending in June 2010 and June 2011, the latest available period.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			 Table 1: Net change in private sector employment between the 12 month APS period ending June 2010 and June 2011 
			  Level (thousand) 
			 Source:Annual Population Survey 
			 England 195 
			 East Midlands 22 
			 Nottinghamshire -2 
			 Ashfield -3

Families

Tim Farron: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate has been made of the number of families with more than three generations living in one household in (a) England, (b) Cumbria and (c) South Lakeland in each of the last five years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking what estimate has been made of the number of families with more than three generations living in one household in (a) England (b) Cumbria (c) South Lakeland in each of the last five years. (97757)
	ONS publishes annual estimates of numbers of families by size and family type, but not of household by number of generations. The latest and nearest equivalent figures are from the 2001 Census and relate to the number of families living in households where there are people spanning three or more generations. The figures are:
	(1) England: 464,618
	(2) Cumbria: 3,931
	(3) South Lakeland: 732.
	For the purposes of the 2001 Census:
	A household is defined as one person living alone, or a group of people (not necessarily related) living at the same address with common housekeeping—that is, sharing either a living room or sitting room, or at least one meal a day.
	ONS's algorithm does not count the number of generations in the household, but rather the number of generations spanned in the household; that is, it is not necessary for all generations to be present. For example, a household that consists of a grandparent and grandchild is designated as three generations, as is a household that consists of a grandparent, child (parent) and grandchild (child).
	A family is defined as a group of people consisting of: a married or cohabiting couple with or without child(ren) (corresponding to one or two generations); or a lone parent with children(ren) (corresponding to two generations); or a married or cohabiting couple (one generation), or a lone grandparent with their grandchild(ren) where there are no children in the intervening generation in the household (three generations).
	The figures are derived from a specially commissioned 2001 Census Table C1309. Equivalent data from the 2011 Census will not be available until 2013.

Minister without Portfolio: Official Visits

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many visits in an official capacity the Minister without Portfolio has undertaken since 10 May 2010.

Francis Maude: Details of ministerial visits are published on the Cabinet Office website at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations

Public Sector

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment his Department has made of the contribution Active Operations Management can make to the Government's public sector efficiency agenda.

Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
	The Department for Work and Pensions is currently completing its roll-out of the Active Operations Management methodology within its Benefit Delivery arm, following a successful pilot. Following implementation and full evaluation, the impact will be assessed, and any additional findings will be implemented. The full results will be shared with other interested Departments.

Public Sector: Billing

Iain Wright: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will bring forward proposals to extend the 10-day payment period under the prompt payment code to all public procuring bodies and their clients.

Francis Maude: The Government recognise that being paid promptly for work done is vital for suppliers to enable them to manage their cash flow and reduce time wasted on chasing invoices. We are determined to do everything we can to help business manage cash flow and to transform the culture of late payment.
	It is Government policy to pay 80% of undisputed invoices within five days and to pass 30-day payment terms down supply chains by including requirements for suppliers to do so in contracts. We expect our suppliers to follow our example on prompt payment and encourage them to pay their subcontractors more quickly than the 30-day contractual requirement.
	We have no plans to change the voluntary nature of the prompt payment code. However, central Government Departments, the NHS and some local authorities have already signed up to it.

Reed: Government Departments

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the (a) total and (b) individual value is of Government contracts awarded to (i) Reed or Reed in Partnership and (ii) associates of Reed or Reed in Partnership since May 2010.

Francis Maude: As part of my Department's transparency programme, details of contracts above the value of £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder:
	http://www.contractsfinder.co.uk

Seetec: Government Departments

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the (a) total and (b) individual value is of Government contracts awarded to (i) Seetec and (ii) associates of Seetec since May 2010.

Francis Maude: As part of my Department's transparency programme, details of contracts above the value of £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder:
	http://www.contractsfinder.co.uk

Suicide

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the suicide rate was in (a) Tees Valley, (b) the North East and (c) England and Wales in each year since 2000.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the suicide rate was in (a) Tees Valley, (b) the North East and (c) England and Wales in each year since 2000. (98220)
	Table 1 provides the age-standardised suicide rate per 100,000 population in (a) Tees Valley, (b) the North East region and (c) England and Wales, for 2000 to 2010 (the latest year available).
	Figures for suicides in the United Kingdom, England and Wales, and regions in England are published annually and are available at the following link:
	http://ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all-releases.html? definition=tcm%3A77-29400
	
		
			 Table 1: Age-standardised suicide rate per 100,000 population (with 95% confidence intervals), Tees Valley, the North East and England and Wales, 2000-10 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) 
			 Rate per 100,000 population 
			  Tees Valley North East England and Wales 
			   Confidence interval  Confidence interval  Confidence interval 
			  Rate Lower limit Upper limit Rate Lower limit Upper limit Rate Lower limit Upper limit 
			 2000 16.5 13.0 20.1 13.9 12.3 15.6 12.0 11.7 12.3 
			 2001 13.5 10.4 16.7 12.2 10.7 13.7 11.5 11.2 11.8 
			 2002 13.3 10.1 16.4 11.8 10.3 13.3 11.1 10.8 11.4 
			 2003 18.4 14.7 22.2 13.4 11.8 14.9 11.1 10.8 11.4 
			 2004 16.0 12.5 19.5 14.5 12.8 16.1 11.2 10.9 11.5 
			 2005 13.2 10.1 16.4 11.8 10.3 13.2 10.8 10.4 11.1 
			 2006 10.4 7.6 13.1 10.9 9.5 12.3 10.2 9.9 10.5 
			 2007 12.3 9.3 15.2 10.5 9/1 11.9 9.7 9.4 10.0 
			 2008 10.2 7.4 12.9 11.2 9.8 12.7 10.3 10.0 10.6 
			 2009 12.9 9.8 16.0 11.5 10.0 12.9 10.4 10.1 10.7 
			 2010 9.8 7.1 12.5 11.2 9.8 12.6 10.0 9.7 10.3 
			 (1) Age-standardised suicide rates per 100,000 population, standardised to the European Standard Population. Age-standardised rates are used to allow comparison between populations which may contain different proportions of people of different ages. (2) Confidence intervals are a measure of the statistical precision of an estimate and show the range of uncertainty around the estimated figure. Calculations based on small number of events are often subject to random fluctuations. As a general rule, if the confidence interval around one figure overlaps with the interval around another, we cannot say with certainty that there is more than a chance difference between the two figures. (3) Suicide was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E950-E959 and E980-E989 (excluding E988.8) for the year 2000, and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84 and Y10-Y34 (excludingY33.9 where the coroner’s verdict was pending for the year 2001 to 2006. From 2007, deaths which were previously coded to Y33.9 are coded to U50.9) for 2001 onwards. (4) Figures are for persons aged 15 years and over. (5) Based on boundaries as of 2011. (6) Figures for Tees Valley and the North East exclude deaths of non-residents. Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. (7 )Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Teenage Pregnancy: Pendle

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many teenage pregnancies there were in Pendle constituency in each of the last five years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many teenage pregnancies there were in Pendle in each of the last five years.
	The Office for National Statistics produces statistics on conceptions, which are estimates based on the number of live births, stillbirths and legal abortions. They do not include miscarriages and illegal abortions.
	The following table provides the number of conceptions to women aged under 18 years and under 20 years in Pendle local authority district in the last five years.
	Further information about conception statistics is published on the Office for National Statistics website:
	www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all-releases. html?definition=tcm%3A77-27423
	
		
			 Table 1. Conceptions to women under 18 (1)  and under 20 (1)  Pendle local authority district, 2006-10 
			 Number of conceptions 
			 Age 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Under 18 80 80 95 89 83 
			 Under 20 218 201 234 212 212 
			 (1) Under 18 or under 20 years at estimated date of conception. Note: Figures are based on boundaries as of November 2011.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Employment Support Allowance

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people with multiple sclerosis will no longer receive their contributory employment support allowance from April 2012.

Maria Miller: It is not possible to provide the information.
	However, at May 2011 there were 1,250 people with multiple sclerosis as their primary condition who were receiving contributory ESA in the work related activity group.

Work Programme

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to monitor the Work programme; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: DWP has a range of mechanisms to monitor the Work programme including contract performance reviews, compliance and assurance monitoring, payment validation systems, analysis of management information and participant feedback. In addition, an independent evaluation of the Work programme has been commissioned which will conclude in 2014.

Absenteeism

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average absence rate of staff of his Department based in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) England, (d) Wales and (e) each regional centre in Scotland was in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) 2011-12.

Chris Grayling: The following table shows the average (sickness) absence rate for staff in the Department for Work and Pensions based in the UK, Scotland, England, and Wales for 2009-10 and 2010-11. Information is not recorded for each regional centre in Scotland.
	
		
			  2009-10 2010-11 
			 England 8.5 8.1 
			 Scotland 8.1 7.3 
			 Wales 8.8 9.5 
			 UK 8.5 8.1 
		
	
	Information for 2011-12 will be available in April. The UK figure for the most recent 12 months (ie December 2011 to January 2012) is 7.3 average days. The Department for Work and Pensions has cut sickness absence by nearly a third, from a peak of 11.1 average days in 2007.
	We are committed to achieving further improvement by helping staff maintain good health at work, rehabilitating them back to work when they fall ill and taking prompt and firm administrative action when they are unable to maintain good attendance records. In accordance with best practice reported by Dame Carol Black and David Frost CBE in “Health at work—an independent review of sickness absence”, published in November 2011.

Absenteeism

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of his Department's employees were absent from work due to sickness for more than 10 working days in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) each regional centre in Scotland in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) 2011-12.

Chris Grayling: The following table shows how many employees of the Department for Work' and Pensions were absent from work due to sickness for more than 10 working days in the UK, Scotland, England, and Wales in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
	
		
			  2009-10 2010-11 
			 England 18,226 15,879 
			 Scotland 2,050 1,705 
			 Wales 1,467 1,339 
			 UK 21,743 18,923 
		
	
	Information for 2011-12 will be available in April. Information is not recorded for each regional centre in Scotland.

Absenteeism

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of his Department's employees took stress-related sick leave in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) England, (d) Wales and (e) each regional centre in Scotland in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) 2011-12.

Chris Grayling: The following table shows how many employees of the Department for Work and Pensions took sick leave attributed to stress in the UK, Scotland, England, and Wales in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
	
		
			  2009-10 2010-11 
			 England 3,232 3,342 
		
	
	
		
			 Scotland 373 338 
			 Wales 243 253 
			 UK 3,848 3,933 
		
	
	Information for 2011-12 will be available in April. Information is not recorded for each regional centre in Scotland.

Absenteeism

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disciplinary cases against employees of his Department involved an employee taking time off for health reasons in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) England, (d) Wales and (e) each regional centre in Scotland in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) 2011-12.

Chris Grayling: The following table shows how many employees of the Department for Work and Pensions received either a verbal or written warning for unacceptable levels of attendance due to sickness absence in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
	
		
			  2009-10 2010-11 
			 England 6,531 8,205 
			 Scotland 944 987 
			 Wales 555 678 
			 UK 8,030 9,870 
		
	
	Information for 2011-12 will be available in April. Information is not recorded for each regional centre in Scotland.

Active Operations Management

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions his Department has had with the Cabinet Office about promoting Active Operations Management in other Government Departments.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions has contacted other Government Departments, sharing details of the Active Operations Management methodology and offering to provide opportunities to see it in operation.
	Details are also posted on the Register of Reusable Assets.

Active Operations Management

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to utilise the Active Operations Management methodology within (a) his Department and (b) its agencies.

Chris Grayling: Active Operations Management methodology has been adopted by the benefit delivery arm of the Department for Work and Pensions and is being considered by other areas.

Atos Healthcare

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2012, Official Report, column 346W, if he will publish the specific clauses in the Medical Services Agreement with Atos Healthcare.

Chris Grayling: The clauses are published and a copy of the agreement with Atos Healthcare is held in the House of Lords' Library.
	Specific clauses in relation to confidentiality rules are within clause 12.

Atos Healthcare

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2012, Official Report, column 346W, whether Atos Healthcare, or a director of Atos Healthcare, received a performance-related bonus payment as part of the contract with his Department in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011.

Chris Grayling: There is nothing in the contract with Atos Healthcare to pay any of its directors or any of its employees, performance related bonus payments.
	No bonus payments are made as part of the contract.

Auto-enrolment Staging Dates

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish details of changes to the auto-enrolment staging dates for employers with between 50 and 3,000 employees.

Steve Webb: On 25 January 2012 I issued a statement ‘Changes to the automatic enrolment timetable’, which set out our proposed approach to the implementation of automatic enrolment.
	The following table sets out high level proposals. There will be no change to the existing staging profile for employers with 250 or more persons in their PAYE scheme. They will be staged in between 1 October 2012 and 1 February 2014 and retain their existing staging date. Employers with between 50 and 249 persons in their PAYE scheme will be staged in between 1 April 2014 and 1 April 2015. I will publish draft regulations with the final detail of our proposals for consultation shortly.
	
		
			 Employer size (by PAYE scheme size) or other description Automatic enrolment duty date 
			  From (inc.) To (inc.) 
			 250 or more members 1 October 2012 1 February 2014 
			 50 to 249 members 1 April 2014 1 April 2015 
			 Test tranche for less than 30 members 1 June 2015 30 June 2015 
			 30 to 49 members 1 August 2015 1 October 2015 
			 Less than 30 members 1 January 2016 1 April 2017 
			 Employers without PAYE schemes 1 April 2017 — 
			 New employers April 2012 to March 2013 1 May 2017 — 
			 New employers April 2013 to March 2014 1 July 2017 — 
			 New employers April 2014 to March 2015 1 August 2017 — 
			 New employers April 2015 to December 2015 1 October 2017 — 
			 New employers January 2016 to September 2016 1 November 2017 — 
			 New employers October 2016 to June 2017 1 January 2018 — 
			 New employers July 2017 to September 2017 1February 2018 — 
			 New employers October 2017 Immediate duty —

Carers: Employment

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to encourage businesses to employ people who were previously unpaid carers.

Chris Grayling: DWP work with over 300,000 businesses every year to support their recruitment and skills plans and to maximise opportunities for unemployed people. Building on those relationships helps promote Get Britain Working measures, including apprenticeships and work trials.
	Our staff work with local and national employers to get the most out of opportunities available for unemployed people and jobseekers, ensuring they are as well prepared as can be to compete for jobs in the labour market.
	DWP actively encourages businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to offer vacancies and opportunities to support its work with unemployed people. In particular this means encouraging employers to recruit people who are less likely to find a job themselves.
	When employers place jobs with DWP, our personal advisers use every opportunity to support job seekers in their application, process. They can help with all aspects of job search activity, including, CV preparation and skills analysis. And, we work in partnership with many employers to promote the skills and aspirations that jobseekers have.

Carers: Employment

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to assist carers to return to paid work.

Chris Grayling: Carers can receive assistance to return to work through Jobcentre Plus. This can include help preparing for work, help to find suitable training and support in looking for and applying for a job.
	Carers can have access to a menu of flexible support, including work preparation support, work focussed interviews, adviser support, access to the Flexible Support Fund and the Support Contract.
	Through the Flexible Support Fund, a ring fenced fund which is managed at district level in Jobcentre Plus, carers can get help with the costs of travel, child care, replacement care and course costs when they are taking part in training or interview agreed by Jobcentre Plus.
	Carers are also eligible for The Work Programme, which is for those people who are at risk of long-term unemployment. Work Programme providers have the freedom to provide the help that they consider necessary to support claimants into a job and address long term challenges.
	Depending on which benefit they receive carers may be eligible to volunteer to join the Work Programme or access this provision earlier than other claimants.
	The Government would like to put in place labour market structures that help all current and potential workers to find and retain work. Flexible Working is an important part of achieving this. The Government have announced their intention to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees, which will be beneficial to carers in work and those seeking employment. The Government consultation on this closed on 8 August 2011. The Department intends to publish the response to the consultation in early 2012.

Children: Day Care

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parent and partner claimants working fewer than 16 hours per week were in receipt of in-work child care payments prior to the establishment of the Flexible Support Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: Information is not available on how many lone parent and partner claimants working less than 16 hours per week were in receipt of in-work child care payments (known as the Child Care Subsidy) prior to the establishment of the Flexible Support Fund.

Children: Day Care

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the annual budget was for in-work child care subsidy prior to September 2011.

Maria Miller: Since April 2011, the in-work child care subsidy has formed part of the Flexible Support Fund as one of the measures to help to remove barriers to work. Due to the flexible nature of this fund, no specific budget is allocated for child care subsidy. Prior to April 2011, child care subsidy payments were made as part of the new deal for lone parents programme. It is not possible to separately identify the amount spent specifically on child care subsidy from other child care-related payments.

Council Tax

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total income will be of an owner-occupying couple in a household with no adult working and two children under seven receiving school meals costing £2 per day each and paying council tax of £1,000 per year from April 2012.

Chris Grayling: After April 2012, the total income of this household would be around £291 per week. This includes around £19 a week in council tax benefit and £20 a week which is allocated for school meals for both children.
	Notes:
	1. As this couple is out of work, they are entitled to receive free school meals for their children.
	2. The answer is based on the tax/benefit system in 2012-13.
	3. Income is defined as net earnings in addition to any benefits or tax credits and includes an amount for school meals.
	4. Council tax of £1,000 a year has been equated to approximately £19 a week.
	5. All numbers have been provided in 2011-12 prices, and where necessary, deflated by the GDP deflator.
	6. All numbers have been rounded to the nearest £1.

Departmental Internet

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what public services his Department delivers online only.

Chris Grayling: There are no services the Department delivers online only.

Departmental Responsibilities

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last met representatives of the (a) CBI, (b) Institute of Directors, (c) British Chamber of Commerce and (d) TUC to discuss the labour market and unemployment.

Chris Grayling: This Department has published on a quarterly basis since October 2009, details of all ministerial meetings with external organisations. The information you have requested can be found via the following link to the Department's website:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/corporate-publications/ministers-meetings-overseas.shtml
	Information for the period 1 July 2011 to 31 December 2011 has yet to be published.

Disability Living Allowance

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people in each (a) local authority area and (b) parliamentary constituency who claim disability living allowance will lose their entitlement altogether as a result of the move to personal independence payments;
	(2)  how many people in each (a) local authority area and (b) parliamentary constituency he estimates will have their income reduced as a result of the move from disability living allowance to personal independence payments.

Maria Miller: Reassessment activity for existing disability living allowance recipients will start in October 2013 and we intend that everyone will have been contacted by March 2016. Disability living allowance recipients will be asked if they want to claim personal independence payment and will be assessed for that new benefit where they do. By the time reassessment activity has finished we expect the working age caseload (16 to 64) for personal independence payment to be 500,000 lower than it would have been had we not carried out these reforms. The estimated reduction in caseload cannot be broken down into smaller geographic areas. We provided estimated impacts on numbers in our consultation document, “Personal Independence Payment: assessment thresholds and consultation”, published on 16 January 2012 available on the DWP website:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2012/pip.shtml
	We have not yet set the rates at which PIP will be paid, so it is not yet possible to estimate how much people may lose or gain as a result of the introduction of personal independence payment.

Disability Living Allowance: Scotland

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of renewal claims for the (a) care and (b) mobility component of disability living allowance were (i) granted, (ii) granted at a lower rate and (iii) refused in Scotland in (A) 2010 and (B) 2011; and in how many and what proportion of cases where the claim was (1) granted at a lower rate and (2) refused the claimant lodged an appeal.

Maria Miller: We are unable to answer the question as posed. This is because our Management Information Statistics do not go down to the level of detail that would enable us to break down renewal claims into the care and mobility components or identify customers living in Scotland.

Employers’ Liability

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish the outcomes of the consultation on Accessing Compensation—Supporting People who need to trace Employers' Liability Insurance; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: I appreciate that the Government's response to the consultation is taking longer to publish than many had hoped. However the issues raised are complex and we remain in discussions with all stakeholders to make sure we get this right. We are still carefully considering all the issues and will bring forward our proposals in due course.

Employment Schemes

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information he has on differences in performance of different Work Programme providers.

Chris Grayling: The Department is working to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure we are able to publish statistics that are accurate and meet the required high quality standards.
	The Work programme is a two-year programme that started in June 2011, it is therefore too early to make any comparisons in performance at this stage. DWP has however published the first official statistics on Work programme referrals and attachments and these are available via this link:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?paqe=wp
	We intend to publish official statistics on job outcomes, our key measure of success, from autumn 2012. This will enable a comparison of performance between providers.

Employment Schemes

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on contractor overheads and anticipated return on investment through Work programme outcomes.

Chris Grayling: Ministers and officials have frequent discussions with Work programme contractors. Any discussions touching on commercial matters are confidential.

Employment Schemes

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish data on participants in the work experience and mandatory work activity schemes who stop receiving benefits in the weeks following commencement on the scheme.

Chris Grayling: Statistics on work experience participant outcomes were published on 9 November 2011. These showed that 51% of the first 1,300 people who started on the programme in January-March 2011 were not in receipt of benefit 13 weeks later.
	I have asked statisticians in the Department to look at publishing further data for the work experience scheme, and also for the mandatory work activity scheme, on those who leave benefits.

Employment Schemes: Newcastle Upon Tyne

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the outcomes are for the Work Programme in Newcastle upon Tyne East constituency for the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: The Department intends to start publishing official statistics on Work Programme job outcomes from autumn 2012. This is in line with guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure published statistics meet the required high quality standards.

Flexible Support Fund

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department holds on applicants for support from the Flexible Support Fund; and whether this information includes (a) the total number of applicants and (b) other benefits claimed by applicants.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions holds the following information on awards made from the Flexible Support Fund: customer’s name and national insurance number; group, district and individual jobcentre where the payment is authorised; client group (such as those in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance, income support or employment and support allowance).
	Information on the total number of applicants is not available. Data is available on the number of awards made but this does not include applications refused and can include multiple awards to the same individual.

Housing Benefit

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of (a) the number of persons affected by the change in the under-occupancy rule for eligibility for local housing allowance, (b) the average effect on weekly income, (c) the number of claimants of local housing allowance and (d) the number of properties available for rent within the new eligibility criteria in each (i) local authority area in Scotland and (ii) parliamentary constituency in Scotland.

Steve Webb: The Welfare Reform Bill contains a provision that would reduce housing benefit for working age claimants in the social rented sector where they are deemed to under-occupy their homes. The provision incorporates the size criteria currently used in the assessment of housing benefit for private sector tenants under the local housing allowance rules to ensure a consistent approach. No change is being made to the size criteria used for the local housing allowance.
	The impact assessment for the social sector change can be found on the DWP website:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/legislation-and-key-documents/welfare-reform-bill-2011/impact-assessments-and-equality/

Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to respond to the recommendations of the (a) Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment: Year Two and (b) Working Group on Fluctuating Conditions.

Chris Grayling: The information is as follows:
	(a) Professor Harrington published his Second Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment on 24 November 2011. The Government responded to this on the day that it was published, and a copy of the response is available in the House Library and at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wca-review-2011-response.pdf
	(b) The Department is carefully considering the working group on the fluctuating conditions descriptor’s report and will respond fully in due course.

Jobcentre Plus: Vacancies

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time employment vacancies were advertised in Jobcentre Plus offices in each (i) local authority area in Scotland and (ii) Parliamentary constituency in Scotland in each of the last 12 months.

Chris Grayling: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to exercise the powers conferred on him by the Welfare Reform Act 2009 (Commencement No. 7) Order 2012 to make regulations under paragraph 8B of Schedule 1 to the Jobseekers Act 1995; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The powers in paragraph 8B of schedule 1 to the Jobseekers Act 1995 are being exercised.
	Section 29 of the Welfare Reform Act 2009, which conferred the powers in paragraph 8B, was brought in to force on 19 January 2012 by the Commencement Order No 7.
	Commencement No. 7, subject to parliamentary approval, will provide that a person who has been a victim of domestic violence can be treated as available for employment and actively seeking work for a period of 13 weeks in a 12-month period.
	This means that anyone who has been a victim of domestic violence will be able to receive jobseeker's allowance (JSA) for the specified number of weeks without them being available for employment or actively seeking employment providing that they satisfy the other conditions of entitlement.
	Before the regulations can become law both Houses of Parliament will have the opportunity to consider, debate and vote on the draft regulations. Dates for debates have not yet been announced, but we anticipate that these will take place in the House of Commons and House of Lords around the middle of March although this will, to some extent, depend on other parliamentary business.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion claimants of jobseeker’s allowance have been subject to benefit sanctions in each quarter since 2008.

Chris Grayling: Information on referrals for a sanction and adverse decisions made for jobseeker’s allowance claimants in each quarter since 2008 is available at:
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/stats_summary/stats_summary_feb12.pdf

Jobseeker’s Allowance: Domestic Violence

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has had discussions with any external organisations on the appropriate definition of domestic violence for the purposes of making regulations under paragraph 8B of schedule 1 to the Jobseekers Act 1995; and whether he plans to consult any external organisations on what such an appropriate definition of domestic violence is.

Chris Grayling: In September 2010, my Department held a small consultation workshop with nine external organisations. During August 2011, officials carried out an informal consultation with over 30 external organisations, including Respect, Women’s Aid, Gingerbread and Child Poverty Action Group on the proposed changes to the regulations, as well the definition of domestic violence that we intend to use. We are also about to start an informal consultation on the proposed changes and the definition of domestic violence with a handful of specialist disability organisations. In addition, we will be cross-referencing our definition with the outcome of the ongoing Home Office consultation “Cross-Government Definition of Domestic Violence” which ends 30 March 2012.

Jobseeker’s Allowance: Domestic Violence

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to make regulations for the purposes of providing an exemption from jobseeking conditions for victims of domestic violence; and what discussions he has had with (a) ministerial colleagues and (b) others to ensure that Parliament has sufficient time to approve such regulations.

Chris Grayling: Draft regulations were laid on 19 January to enable JSA claimants who have been victims of domestic violence in the circumstances set out in the regulations, and who meet the requirements in the regulations, to be treated as meeting the jobseeking conditions for an initial period of four weeks which can be extended to 13 weeks on the production of specified kinds of evidence. Subject to the parliamentary calendar and amount of parliamentary business, they are due to be debated in both Houses around the middle of March. The regulations will only be made once they have been considered and approved by both Houses of Parliament. This will allow sufficient time for discussions to be held with (a) ministerial colleagues and (b) others. Once the regulations have been made, they will come into force at the time specified in the draft regulations, which we anticipate will be 23 April 2012.

Jobseeker’s Allowance: Domestic Violence

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made to the likely number of individuals who would be affected by regulations providing an exemption from jobseeking conditions for victims of domestic violence in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014.

Chris Grayling: The expected volume of people affected by these regulations in future years will depend on the number of JSA claimants at each point in time and the Department does not predict unemployment figures.
	We know from the British crime survey that 6%-10% of all women and 4% of men are victims of domestic abuse each year. We also know that very few of these victims disclose their abuse to a Government agency.
	Based on current flows on to jobseeker’s allowance, the number of people who may make use of the provisions afforded by these regulations is around 3,000.

Jobseeker’s Allowance: Work Experience

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants of jobseeker's allowance have been sanctioned for failing to attend a work experience placement in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: For the period January 2011 to end October 2011 (the latest period for which data are available), 70 sanctions were applied for failing to attend work experience placements.

Jobseeker’s Allowance: Work Experience

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobseekers who have been placed in a company for work experience have left after the first week but before the end of the placement in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: The Department does not hold robust information on the number of jobseekers who have been placed in a company for work experience and then left after the first week.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to answer the letter sent to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 11 January 2012 with regard to Ms J Batsleer.

Chris Grayling: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), wrote to the right hon. Member on 6 February 2012 with an interim response; followed by a full reply on 23 February 2012.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will arrange personally to see and reply to the letter of 27 February 2012 from the hon. Member for Walsall North concerning the death of a constituent and the complaint made by the constituent’s sister on the handling of the case by his Department.

Chris Grayling: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), will write to hon. Member as soon as the internal inquiry has been completed.

New Enterprise Allowance

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the eligibility criteria for the new enterprise allowance.

Chris Grayling: There are no current plans to change the eligibility criteria for the new enterprise allowance, and therefore no discussions with ministerial colleagues have taken place.

Personal Injury: Compensation

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) motor personal injury cases and (b) motor personal injury settlements were registered with his Department's Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) in each of the last 20 years; and how much was recovered from victims of motor personal injury cases by the CRU in that period.

Chris Grayling: Due to system archiving the information available is limited to five years and is available in the table.
	
		
			 Motor personal injury cases 
			  Cases registered Settlements recorded Recoveries (£) 
			 2010-11 790,999 659,671 41,072,611.98 
			 2009-10 674,997 629,916 38,352,747.39 
			 2008-09 625,072 546,147 37,868,936.09 
			 2007-08 551,905 493,883 38,985,158.03 
			 2006-07 518,821 469,642 39,566,754.71 
			 Source: Figures produced by the Compensation Recovery Unit.

Personal Injury: Compensation

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the potential change in recoveries by his Department's Compensation Recovery Unit as a result of implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's proposed civil cost reforms.

Chris Grayling: In line with the Compensation Recovery Scheme legislation, recoveries from the compensator to the DWP Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) are dependent on the level of recoverable benefits that are received by the injured person who claims compensation.
	Recoveries are paid to the CRU by the compensator, when the compensator settles the compensation claim with the injured person.
	The current average settlement period is 13 months. Estimates on the future level of recoveries in relation to any impact from Lord Justice Jackson's proposed civil cost reforms have not been made at this stage.

Social Security Benefits

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the cost of paying (a) employment and support allowance, (b) disability living allowance, (c) the state pension and (d) jobseeker's allowance in Scotland in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11.

Chris Grayling: The cost of frontline administrative staff, working in Scotland, on the following benefits is as follows:
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2009-10 2010-11 
			 (a) Employment and Support Allowance 10.7 11.0 
			 (b) Disability Living Allowance 2.5 2.9 
			 (c) State Pension 5.5 4.5 
			 (d) Jobseekers Allowance 13.6 10.5 
		
	
	We are unable to identify the cost of delivering these benefits to claimants residing in Scotland.
	Benefit expenditure for people resident in Scotland is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2009-10 2010-11 
			 (a) Employment and Support Allowance 130 225 
			 (b) Disability Living Allowance 1,282 1,322 
			 (c) State Pension 5,739 5,967 
			 (d) Jobseekers Allowance 407 428 
			 Note: Figures rounded to nearest million. Source: DWP Statistical and Accounting Data. 
		
	
	The information is published at the following address:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/la_expenditure.xls

Social Security Benefits: Northern Ireland

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of claimants in Northern Ireland who will be affected by his benefit reform.

Chris Grayling: Northern Ireland issues of social security are devolved and responsibility of the Northern Ireland executive.

Tell Us Once Scheme

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has assessed the potential effects of expansion of the Tell Us Once scheme on private sector companies operating in the area.

Chris Grayling: The Tell Us Once service—a successful and powerful demonstration of how organisations can put the needs of customers at the heart of their business design and work in partnership to achieve both a step change in the level of services provided and significant efficiencies has been universally welcomed by citizens.
	Indeed it is from the experiences within local and central Government and the feedback from citizens who value the service so highly that they wish to see it extended further—we have now been encouraged to look into opportunities to widen the service. Working on behalf of the citizen, we have been examining a number of opportunities to engage across the public, private and voluntary sectors to test whether the positive benefits of the Tell Us Once experience could be replicated and the appetite for effective partnership approaches with service providers who share a common customer.
	In efforts to more fully understand the potential effects of such an approach, officials, working in consultation with representative sub-sectors of industry, are sharing these experiences and testing appetites for further possible expansion.

Tell Us Once Scheme

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what data protection measures his Department plans to put in place to safeguard information gathered following the expansion of the Tell Us Once scheme.

Chris Grayling: The Tell Us Once Programme has undertaken a full privacy impact assessment, which has been used as an exemplar by the Information Commissioner's Office.
	Robust registration and enrolment policies are in place to make sure that only those who are authorised to do so can use the Tell Us Once IT system, also known as the Change Reporting System (CRS). Only central and local Government employees who have undergone the required enrolment will have access to receive information through CRS. They will only receive the information which is relevant to their business and this will be sent to them via secure government systems and networks.
	Information is not held ad infinitum. Records will be deleted as soon as it is reasonably practicable according to best practice. Following submission, data will be retained in CRS for a maximum of 35 days. A 'stub' of data will be retained for 428 days (approximately 14 months) from the date of submission before it is deleted. This will contain minimal personal details and a record of which organisations were contacted and picked up the Tell Us Once notification. Data held are subject to the Data Protection Act.
	The CRS itself has been accredited by a Pan Government Accreditor. They are satisfied that there are safeguards in place to protect the system from potential threats such as hacking.

UK Debt Management Office

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has any plans to close his Department's Debt Management Office in Glasgow.

Chris Grayling: The Department's Debt Management Office in Glasgow will close by the end of March 2013. This follows a redesign of the Department's debt management operations which will enhance the service to our customers by reducing the number of handoffs between different parts of the Department.
	This will mean that rather than receiving several letters from different parts of the Department, our customers will, in the majority of cases, receive one letter telling them of any changes to their benefit, along with details of overpayments that have arisen as a result of the change. They will also be told in that letter what they have to do about the overpayment, and who to contact for advice.
	This enhanced process will mean that the current organisational structure will no longer be viable. The affected staff have been advised of the decision and that they will be redeployed. Our aim is always to avoid compulsory redundancies and I am confident that staff can be redeployed before the end of March 2013.

Welfare State: Northern Ireland

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2012, Official Report, column 344W, on housing benefit: Northern Ireland, how many meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in the Northern Ireland Executive on welfare reform and universal credit in the last year; and when such meetings took place.

Chris Grayling: Within the Department for Work and Pensions, Lord Freud is the Minister with lead responsibility for Welfare Reform. He is also the Minister with lead responsibility for liaison with Ministers from the Northern Ireland Executive.
	Northern Ireland is responsible for its own social security system. However, there is an expectation that the NI and GB systems will operate in parallel under what is termed the parity principle. Under this arrangement the same benefits are paid at the same rates subject to the same conditions and rules.
	To achieve this aim discussions take place regularly with the Northern Ireland Executive on all new legislation at both a ministerial and official level.
	Ministers of the Department of Work and Pensions have met Ministers from the Northern Ireland Executive as follows:
	Minister for Social Development: 4 March 2011
	Minister for Employment and Learning: 4 March 2011
	Minister for Social Development: 31 August and 1 September 2011
	Minister for Employment and Learning: 31 August and 1 September 2011
	Minister for Social Development: 16 November 2011.
	At official level we are engaged in a permanent dialogue. Additionally, officials from the Northern Ireland Executive are members of all the relevant Department for Work and Pensions programme and project boards.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Atos Healthcare is subject to performance incentives in relation to the work capability assessment; and if so whether the criteria for such incentives were met in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011.

Chris Grayling: Atos Healthcare are not subject to performance incentives in relation to the work capability assessments (WCA). During (a) 2010 and (b) 2011 there were no performance incentives paid in relation to the WCA.

Work Capability Assessment

Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of work capability assessments on the way in which disability living allowance decisions are made.

Maria Miller: As disability living allowance entitlement is not related to capability for work there has been no such assessment. The introduction of the work capability assessment has seen no changes in the way disability living allowance entitlement is decided.

Work Experience: Unemployed People

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the most recent outcomes are of his Department's work experience scheme for the unemployed in (a) Kettering constituency, (b) Northamptonshire and (c) England.

Chris Grayling: The most recent statistics on work experience participant outcomes were published on 9 November 2011. These showed that 51% of the first 1,300 people who started on the programme in Great Britain in January-March 2011 were not in receipt of benefit 13 weeks later.
	Note:
	The cohort of 1,300 starts is too small to show benefit outcomes by smaller geographical areas.

Work Experience: Young People

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent progress he has made in promoting work experience for young people.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions work with employers to provide young people with placements in a wide range of sectors. For example, the Department's National Employer Service Team recently reviewed its portfolio with a view to securing new accounts to provide a more comprehensive cross-sector mix of placements. This work is kept under review to ensure that the Department is able to offer young people a broad range of placements. The National Employer Service Team currently work across 22 sectors. They also engage directly with 20 trade body associations which span key growth sectors and represent both national and small employers.
	From January 2011 until the end of November 2011, 34,200 young people participated in work experience. The number of starts more than doubled (an increase of around 107%) over the latest quarter, rising from 16,500 starts (to the end of August 2011).

Work Programme

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the experiences of charities as sub-contractors in the Work programme.

Chris Grayling: The Department has commissioned the Institute for Employment Studies to undertake an independent evaluation of the Work programme. This will include an evaluation of Work programme supply chains, exploring the impacts of the Department's commissioning approach on all delivery organisations, including those from the third sector. Interim findings will be available mid 2013 with a final report published in 2014-15.
	The Department's most recent stocktake of providers involved in the Work programme took place on 12 August 2011.
	The stocktake identified that the number of voluntary and community based organisations involved in delivering the Work programme was (a) two prime providers, (b) 108 tier 1 providers and (c) 315 tier 2 providers.

Work Programme

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he is taking to ensure sub-contractors in the Work programme are paid promptly for work done on behalf of main contractors.

Chris Grayling: The terms and conditions of Work programme contracts require Prime providers who sub-contract, to comply at all times with the Merlin Standard. This requires that funding arrangements are fair, proportionate and do not cause undue financial risk for supply chain partners.
	Prime providers must obtain Merlin accreditation within one year of commencing delivery of a DWP Welfare to Work contract and an independent organisation has been appointed to undertake these assessments. Further information is available on the Merlin web portal:
	http://www.merlinstandard.co.uk

Work Programme

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what monitoring of Work programme contractors his Department undertakes to ensure commitments made in applications are fulfilled.

Chris Grayling: The Department has commissioned the Institute for Employment Studies to undertake an independent evaluation of the Work programme. This will include an evaluation of Work programme supply chains, exploring the impacts of the Department's commissioning approach on all delivery organisations, including those from the third sector. Interim findings will be available mid 2013 with a final report published in 2014-15.
	DWP has a range of mechanisms to monitor the Work programme including contract performance reviews, compliance and assurance monitoring to minimise fraud and error, payment validation systems, analysis of management information and participant feedback.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many voluntary sector organisations were identified as participating in the Work programme supply chain in the stocktake undertaken in January 2012; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The latest figures have now been published and are available via the following link:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wp-supply-chains.xls

DEFENCE

Armed Forces Covenant

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the findings of the interim report on the armed forces covenant.

Andrew Robathan: As I said in the foreword to the interim report on the armed forces covenant, there has been much progress, although there is still much to do. Some of that work falls to Government, but many of the Covenant workstrands are dependent on the support and active involvement of our strategic partner charities and Families Federations. The Government and the Nation are indebted to them for their continuing support and drive.

Armed Forces: Education

Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of service leavers eligible for the publicly funded further and higher education scheme in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15;
	(2)  how many service leavers were eligible for the publicly funded further and higher education scheme in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11.

Andrew Robathan: All service leavers are potentially eligible for the publicly funded Further and Higher Education (FE/HE) support scheme, subject to them meeting the published criteria, chief among which is being registered for the Enhanced Learning Credit (ELC) scheme.
	There are currently some 125,000 service personnel registered for Enhanced Learning Credits, some of whom will leave the armed forces between now and 1 April 2015. In addition, there are in the region of 100,000 former service personnel who have registered for the ELC scheme and remain entitled to access the scheme.
	Providing that service and former service personnel do not already hold a qualification at level three or above, as listed in the National Qualification Framework, and are in their last two years of service or left service after 17 July 2008, it is likely they will be eligible to access the FE/HE funding scheme. However, as there is no mandatory requirement to record the educational qualifications of service personnel on their service record, or for ex-service personnel to notify the Ministry of Defence of changes to their educational qualifications after having left, it is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of eligibility for the FE/HE scheme.

Defence Equipment: Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) aircraft, (b) helicopters, (c) armoured vehicles, (d) main battle tanks, (e) armoured reconnaissance vehicles, (f) transport aircraft, (g) conventional naval vessels, (h) submarines and (i) field artillery are permanently based in Scotland in respect of each (i) equipment type and (ii) location.

Nick Harvey: Following the strategic defence and security review and consequent decisions, the defence footprint in Scotland is planned to increase.
	Equipment currently based in Scotland is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Equipment type Location Number 
			 Aircraft Lossiemouth 48 
			  Leuchars 19 
			  Kirknewton 5 
			  Kinloss/Lossiemouth 3 
			  Arbroath 5 
			    
			 Helicopters Prestwick 3 
			  Lossiemouth 2 
			    
			 Armoured vehicles — 0 
			    
			 Main battle tanks — 0 
			    
			 Armoured Reconnaissance vehicles Fife 4 
			  Ayr 4 
			    
			 Transport aircraft — 0 
			    
			 Conventional naval vessels Faslane 9 
			  Glasgow 1 
			  Aberdeen 1 
			    
			 Submarines Faslane 5 
			    
			 Field Artillery Arbroath 6 
			  Edinburgh 10

Departmental Apprentices

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many apprentices were employed by each public body for which his Department is responsible between (a) April 2010 and March 2011 and (b) April and December 2011; and how many apprenticeships he expects each public body to sponsor between (i) January and March 2012 and (ii) April 2012 and March 2013.

Andrew Robathan: The public bodies for which the Secretary of State for Defence is currently responsible which recruit apprenticeships are: Defence Support Group (DSG) and the Royal Air Force Museum. The number of apprentices recruited is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			 Apprenticeships by means of: April  2010  to March  2011 April  2011  to December  2011 January  2012  to March  2012 April  2012  to March  2013 
			 Upskilling (DSG only) 50 1 Unknown Unknown 
			 Apprenticeship Scheme (DSG) 111 76 55 10 
			 Apprenticeship Scheme (RAF Museum) 6 6 6 6 
			 Total 167 83 61 16

Departmental Apprentices

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many apprentices were employed by his Department between (a) April 2010 and March 2011 and (b) April and December 2011; and how many apprenticeships he plans that his Department will sponsor between (i) January and March 2012 and (ii) April and March 2013.

Andrew Robathan: The number of apprentices employed in the Ministry of Defence between the above mentioned time periods are detailed in the following table:
	
		
			 Apprenticeships by means of: April 2010 to March 2011 April 2011 to December 2011 January 2012 to March 2012 April 2012 to March 2013 
			 Civilian—Upskilling 1,078 517 Unknown Unknown 
			 Civilian—Apprenticeship Schemes 66 53 52 52 
			 RAF 892 647 892 892 
			 RN (including RM) 3,107 1,403 1,230 3,295 
			 Army 8,138 4,806 4,806 4,806 
			 Total 13,281 7,426 6,980 9,045

Departmental Procurement

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any products purchased by his Department in the last year did not meet the expected technical specifications; and what the names were of any such products.

Peter Luff: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Regulation

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress his Department has made on the Red Tape Challenge; and which regulations have been (a) abolished and (b) revised as part of the Challenge.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence is not a lead Department for any of the themes so far identified in the Red Tape Challenge.

Diamond Jubilee 2012: Medals

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the eligibility criteria are for the Queen's diamond jubilee medal.

Andrew Robathan: The Department for Culture Media and Sport announced on 28 June 2011 the Government's intention to award and distribute a diamond jubilee medal. Medals are traditionally awarded for royal jubilees to recognise and reward the service and dedication of key front line services and, in particular, to those who are exposed regularly to difficult, often emergency situations and who potentially risk their lives.
	The announcement made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), stated that members of the armed forces (regular and reserves) who have completed five full calendar years of service, and are serving on 6 February 2012, will be presented with a medal to mark Her Majesty the Queen's diamond jubilee. These criteria are consistent with the approach adopted for earlier Jubilee medals, such as the golden jubilee in 2002.

Diamond Jubilee 2012: Medals

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure eligibility for the Queen's diamond jubilee medal includes service personnel who (a) are currently on active service but who may not have completed five years of qualifying service and (b) have been injured on active service but who may not have completed five years of qualifying service.

Andrew Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Colchester (Sir Bob Russell) on 21 February 2012, Official Report, column 773W.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reduction in carbon dioxide emissions his Department has made under the 10:10 initiative.

Stephen O'Brien: Under the 10:10 initiative, the Department for International Development (DFID) exceeded the 10% UK target to reduce carbon emissions from energy achieving 15.4%; we also exceeded the pan-Government average of 13.8%.
	DFID achieved the reduction in carbon emissions due to a range of measures including reductions in plant operation times, IT server virtualisation programme, printer rationalisation programme and a green roof at our site in East Kilbride. We remain strongly committed to reducing carbon emissions and are well on track to achieve the 25% reduction by March 2015. We will achieve further reductions through measures such as the installation of a biomass boiler, estate rationalisation and a programme of upgrading our existing lighting systems.

Developing Countries: Tax Avoidance

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations he has received from (a) foreign governments and (b) aid agencies on UK-owned companies (i) avoiding and (ii) evading paying taxes in developing countries which are in receipt of aid from the Government.

Stephen O'Brien: Ministers of the Department for International Development have received no representations from foreign governments or aid agencies on these subjects.

EU Aid

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of EU development assistance; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development’s (DFID) Multilateral Aid Review, published in 2011, examined the effectiveness of EU development assistance and identified clear strengths in the EU’s approach, rating the European development fund, which covers African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, as a top performer and the European Commission’s budget instruments, which cover non-ACP countries, as adequate. The EU’s humanitarian agency, ECHO, also performed strongly in our assessment.
	We continue to push for EU aid to be more transparent, flexible and results-focused so that we ensure maximum value for money for both UK taxpayers and the poor people in developing countries who benefit from these programmes.

EU Aid

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his objectives are for forthcoming negotiations on the EU development budget; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen O'Brien: Our overriding priority in the negotiations on the next EU multi-annual financial framework, 2014-20, (MFF) is that the level of the EU budget must be carefully contained. We oppose increases beyond real growth in any budget heading. However, maintaining or increasing the proportion of official development assistance within a smaller overall budget is a UK priority for the MFF.
	In the negotiations on the EU development programme, we are pressing for a greater focus on poorest countries, with poverty reduction as its central objective. It must be results-focused, and the Commission must demonstrate clearly how results will be monitored and managed and how value for money will be achieved. The EU should concentrate its efforts on a limited number of sectors to ensure effectiveness, based on support focused closely on countries’ own priorities.

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen O'Brien: The multilateral aid review assessed the Global Fund as providing very good value for money, but also concluded that the fund could do more to maximise its potential and impact in developing countries.
	This conclusion was confirmed by the findings of a high level panel set up to look at the fund's processes and systems and reiterated by the Board of the fund in November. A Consolidated Transformation Plan to improve risk management and strengthen controls, as well as reform the fund's overall management and business model, has been approved in response. Taken together these reforms are intended to ensure that the fund improves its performance and better meets the needs of poor people affected by the three diseases. We are monitoring its implementation closely.

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department spend at least 75 per cent. of their working time (a) administering his Department’s investments in the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and (b) overseeing the performance of that organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen O'Brien: Three full-time equivalent staff spend at least 75% of their working time administering investments in the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and overseeing performance. This includes a senior official based in Geneva. The core team is supported by a wider team from the international finance division, policy division and Department for International Development country offices. The Global Funds team also work closely with the UK/Australia constituency colleagues on policy and reform issues.

Kenya

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much and what proportion of expenditure on the British Army Training Unit Kenya on (i) engineering, (ii) medical and (iii) other work is classified as overseas development aid.

Andrew Mitchell: None of the British Army's work in Kenya is classified as overseas development aid, although some aspects of their training (e.g. medical exercises and engineering work) brings significant benefits to the Kenyan population.

North Korea

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to respond to the recommendation of the UN Emergency Relief Co-ordinator that the international community should provide more financial support and creative solutions to overcome food shortages in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Alan Duncan: We believe that the Department for International Development's (DFID) investment in the various humanitarian multilateral organisations working in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) represents the best way for the UK to assist the people of the DPRK. We are in close contact with these humanitarian agencies and continue to monitor the situation.

UN Central Emergency Response Fund

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether a UK Minister attended the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund replenishment conference in December 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development’s Director General, Policy and Global Programmes, represented the UK at the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) replenishment conference on 16 December 2011 and made a statement outlining our ongoing support.
	The UK is content that the CERF delivers good value for money and plays a critical and unique role in responding to emergencies. This has been recognised in the horn of Africa following the drought in 2011, where CERF funding enabled the UN and partners to rapidly respond in a difficult environment.
	The UK provided £40 million to the CERF in 2011 and we will provide £40 million for 2012. In addition to this funding, we announced, at the replenishment conference, an extra £20 million for the CERF for 2012 because of a shortfall in its funding. The UK’s funding for future years is set to increase subject to the CERF’s performance.

TREASURY

Alcoholic Drinks: Prices

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had on the introduction of a minimum price per unit on alcohol.

Chloe Smith: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
	The Treasury publishes a list of ministerial meetings with external organisations, available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm

Child Care Tax Credit

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families will no longer receive childcare support as a result of the increase in the hours limit for eligibility for working tax credit.

David Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 6 December 2011, Official Report, column 297W.

Child Care Tax Credit

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families will no longer receive childcare support as a result of the increase in the hours limit for eligibility for working tax credit.

David Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the parliamentary question answered on 6 December 2011, Official Report, column 296W.

Child Care Vouchers

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many parents made use of the HM Revenue and Customs Childcare Voucher scheme in each financial year between 2007-08 and 2010-11; and what estimate he has made of the number of parents likely to make use of the scheme in 2011-12.

David Gauke: The average number of taxpayers in receipt of child care vouchers during each financial year is estimated to be as follows:
	2007-08: 250,000
	2008-09: 310,000
	2009-10: 370,000
	2010-11: 430,000
	2011-12: 500,000.

Convention on the Protection of the European Communities’ Financial Interests

Dominic Raab: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions UK authorities have requested (a) technical and (b) operational assistance from the European Commission to facilitate an investigation into fraud, corruption or money laundering under Article 7 of the Second Protocol of the Convention on the protection of the European Communities' financial interests in the last five years; and what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of that Protocol.

David Gauke: The UK has applied for funding to two EU programmes in the field of the protection of the financial interest of the EU: the Hercule programme aimed at combating cigarette smuggling and counterfeiting; and the Pericles programme aimed at protecting the euro against counterfeiting. The UK has also supported the EU Commission by providing trainers on EU-funded technical support operations, and hosted individuals on EU Commission-assisted projects. HM Treasury is not aware of any instance when UK authorities have asked for operational assistance from the European Commission.
	All member states have adopted the 2nd protocol of the Convention, allowing for cooperation with each other and the Commission should the occasion arise.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Caroline Flint: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reduction in carbon dioxide emissions his Department has made under the 10:10 initiative.

Chloe Smith: Under the 10:10 initiative, HM Treasury achieved a reduction of 14.2% (against the weather corrected baseline) and 14.3% (against the non- weathered corrected baseline) in carbon emissions.
	Data regarding the Departments’ emissions can be found on the Cabinet Office website in several reports using the following link:
	https://update.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/green-government

Departmental Public Expenditure

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on enterprise resource planning systems in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Chloe Smith: HM Treasury uses Oracle for enterprise resource planning within the Treasury Group at an annual licence cost of £121,945.06.

Excise Duties: Biofuels

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps HM Revenue and Customs is taking to enforce the fuel duty derogation for biodiesel producers.

Chloe Smith: Production of less than 2,500 litres of biodiesel per year is exempt from duty. Suppliers are liable to account for the duty if they produce 2,500 litres or more and supply the oil for fuel production.
	HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) ensures that the rules relating to this threshold are complied with through education, monitoring and targeted assurance activity. The regulations concerning the production and supply of motor and heating fuel provide HMRC with sanctions to prevent manipulation. HMRC has issued guidance to ensure that businesses understand the rules, and has taken action, in the form of assessments of unpaid tax and penalties, when businesses have been found to have breached them—for example, by claiming that their customers, rather than they as suppliers, are liable for duty.
	To assist members of the public in reporting cases of concern, HMRC have developed an e-mail template, which is available online at:
	https://online.hmrc.gov.uk/shortforms/form/AAG_TAI

Excise Duties: Fuels

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether he has had any discussions on establishing a fuel duty regulator to regulate the amount of fuel duty paid at times of unexpected increases in fuel prices;
	(2)  when his Department expects to report on the outcome of the trial of a derogation of fuel duty in rural areas; and what discussions he has had on establishing a trial in rural Wales.

Chloe Smith: Treasury Ministers routinely discuss a range of issues with colleagues and stakeholders. Budget 2011 abolished the fuel duty escalator and replaced it with a fair fuel stabiliser. Fuel duty across the UK will increase by inflation only, when oil prices are high. If the oil price falls below a set trigger price on a sustained basis, duty will increase by RPI plus 1p per litre. The Government will publish details of the design of the fair fuel stabiliser at Budget 2012.
	Motorists in remote Scottish islands and the Isles of Scilly will benefit from the 5p per litre discount which took effect on 1 March 2012. The rural fuel duty rebate pilot scheme's operation will be monitored on an ongoing basis and the Government can report that more than 90 businesses have applied to take part.

First-time Buyers

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to support first-time home buyers.

Chloe Smith: The Government and housebuilders are together providing, around £400 million to assist almost 10,500 first-time buyers to purchase a new build property in England through the Firstbuy scheme announced at Budget 2011. Firstbuy provides a 20% loan to top up first-time buyers' own deposit of 5% allowing buyers to take out a mortgage for 75% of the property. FirstBuy is being delivered by the Homes and Communities Agency, working with housebuilders and housing associations, as part of our Affordable Homes Programme.
	In addition, The Housing Strategy, published 21 November 2011, set out that the Government will also introduce a NewBuy scheme to help those who have a small deposit to buy a newly built home.
	Under the scheme, home buyers will be able to purchase new build houses and flats with a 5% deposit. House builders and the Government will help provide security for the loan. The Government will take on a contingent liability which will build up in line with purchases under the scheme, to a maximum of £1 billion. This will help up to 100,000 families and young people to buy their own home.

First-time Buyers: Stamp Duties

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on his decision to end the land stamp duty tax exemption for first-time home buyers on 24 March 2012; and if he will reconsider that decision.

Chloe Smith: The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), receives representations on all aspects of taxation including stamp duty land tax (SDLT).
	The Chancellor announced in the autumn statement on 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, that the SDLT relief for first time buyers has been ineffective in increasing the number of first time buyers entering the market. The relief will therefore end as planned in March 2012.

HM Revenue and Customs

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the implications for HM Revenue and Customs' three year repayment rule of errors made by HM Revenue and Customs.

David Gauke: There is no three year repayment rule; in most cases the relevant time limit for claims and for HMRC to raise an assessment will be four years. Under transitional provisions, for many taxpayers these new time limits will not come into effect until 1 April 2012.
	Time limits for claims to and assessments by HMRC provide certainty for taxpayers and the Department. At the time of the formation of HM Revenue and Customs, there were a wide range of time limits applying across taxes. Following extensive public consultation the Finance Act 2008 introduced changes to align time limits where possible across taxes.
	In general, HMRC will only accept claims for repayment of direct tax which are made within the statutory time limits. However, HMRC will repay direct tax in respect of claims made outside the statutory time limits where the over-payment has arisen because of an error by HMRC or another Government Department and where there is no dispute or doubt as to the facts.

Income Tax

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of tax receipts were paid by the top (a) one, (b) five and (c) 10 per cent. of taxpayers in the most recent period for which figures are available.

David Gauke: Shares of income tax liabilities are shown in National Statistics table 2.4 ‘Shares of total income (before and after tax) and income tax for percentile groups, 1999-00 to 2011-12’ at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2-4.pdf

Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) male and (b) female income taxpayers have earnt less than £10,000 in 2011-12.

David Gauke: An estimated 2.32 million taxpayers have total income less than £10,000 in 2011-12, of which 41% are male and 59% are female.
	Estimates are based on the 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2011 economic and fiscal outlook.

Insolvency: EU Action

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of UK businesses that will be affected by the implementation of the EU's Solvency II rules.

Mark Hoban: Solvency II is a review of insurance regulation which will create a single rulebook and single market for insurers across Europe with the overarching aim of enhancing insurers' financial soundness so as to ensure appropriate policyholder protection.
	There are over 700 UK-based insurance firms. Of these, Solvency II will apply to about 550-600 UK-based insurance firms that will be in scope of the directive, as determined by Article 4 of the Solvency II directive. We do not have an exact figure because there are some insurers who will not know whether they will be in scope until closer to the implementation date. Following Solvency II implementation, the current UK regime for insurers will continue to apply to insurers that are out of scope of Solvency II.
	This, and further information can also be found in the recent HM Treasury and Financial Services Authority consultations on the transposition of Solvency II, available on the HM Treasury website.

Interest Rates

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on the UK economy of an increase in interest rates of (a) 0.5%, (b) 1.5% and (c) 2.5%.

Chloe Smith: A one percentage point rise in the cost of government borrowing would add around £7.5 billion to debt interest payments by 2016-17. A one percentage point rise in effective mortgage rates would add around £10 billion a year to households' mortgage interest payments.

Investment: Carbon Emissions

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what timetable the interim Financial Policy Committee has set to identify systemic carbon risks to the financial system.

Mark Hoban: The interim Financial Policy Committee (FPC) is aware of this issue. The Bank of England will explore it further with market participants to assess the extent to which they have considered the issue, and whether they take it into account when making investment decisions. Should the FPC conclude, at any point, that carbon assets do pose a systemic risk to the financial system, they will report and explain that risk in their six-monthly Financial Stability Report.

Multinational Companies

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to prevent multi-national companies receiving tax write-offs.

David Gauke: In seeking to determine tax liabilities HMRC engages with taxpayers and their advisors to resolve disputes of fact and/or law. Such discussions can be complex and may involve grey areas within the tax system. If HMRC is unable to agree an appropriate settlement it looks to litigation or some form of arbitration.
	Where a company is unable to meet its tax liabilities HMRC seeks arrangements to obtain the tax. Tax will only be written off when it is clearly not recoverable.
	In July 2011 the National Audit Office endorsed the strong governance HMRC has put in place on large business tax settlements, its achievement in recent years of bringing in substantial revenues while tackling tax avoidance, and HMRC's Litigation and Settlement Strategy.
	HMRC nonetheless committed to making further improvements to its governance and to increasing transparency about its work with large businesses.
	On 27 February 2012 HMRC announced new governance arrangements for significant tax disputes, to provide greater transparency, scrutiny and accountability. Effective and efficient tax collection is critical to maintaining tax receipts to fund public services.
	These new arrangements are workable and cost-effective, without undermining the core tax principles of taxpayer confidentiality and effectiveness of collection.

National Insurance: Data Protection

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to protect the identity of individuals when the use of a national insurance number is confused between multiple users.

David Gauke: When HMRC identify the possibility that an NI record is confused, immediate action is taken to establish the true owner and prevent intrusion, this includes an investigation to determine the reason for the confusion and whether there has been any attempt to deliberately misuse the NI number.
	To minimise any confusion or distress to the individual, HMRC endeavours to complete investigations as quickly as possible.

PAYE

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies were issued with penalties for (a) late and (b) incorrect payment of (i) PAYE and (ii) VAT in the financial year (A) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12 to date.

David Gauke: With regard to PAYE, HMRC has interpreted this question as relating to late payment penalties (LPP) which are applied selectively on risk principles, and it would not be in the public interest to disclose this information. Disclosing the number of penalties could undermine the effectiveness of the penalty regime, which relies to some extent on the deterrent effect of the penalties.
	With regard to VAT, HMRC does not hold the information for penalties issued to companies for late payment of VAT and incorrect payment of VAT in a format which distinguishes how many companies they were issued to, and it would cost a disproportionate amount to provide it.

Pocket Lighters: Import Controls

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2011, Official Report, columns 135-36W, on pocket lighters: import controls, on which occasions HM Revenue and Customs and the UK Border Agency have detained suspect shipments of pocket lighters; and what steps were taken in each case.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs and the UK Border Agency have not detained within the last two years any suspect shipments of pocket lighters due to non-conformity with EU and UK safety standards.

Revenue and Customs: ICT

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the potential benefits of further integration of HM Revenue and Customs' systems.

David Gauke: HMRC is driving a significant amount of systems integration through its Change Programme. The Department has a very explicit systems strategy (‘The 13 Machines’) that is one of the five foundational building blocks that underpinned HMRC's proposal for delivering the UK Treasury comprehensive spending review (SR10).
	The 13 machine strategy is based on consolidation of systems onto a set of 13 key technology groups already present on the HMRC IT estate and the consolidation of the associated common business processes. A reduction in the diversity, and hence cost, will be achieved by directing all IT spend on business change initiatives to "13 machines" technologies.
	HMRC currently have significant programmes in progress that are delivering the strategy and developing integrated systems e.g. the 'one click' initiative which is aimed at making it easier for business to transact on line with HMRC, the new machine gaming duty, charities policy changes and RTI (real time integration) all re-use and integrate a number of significant underpinning components. Further integration of systems will be explored as we plan beyond the current SR10 deliverables.

Stamp Duty Land Tax: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many first-time buyers in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) the London borough of Bexley have been liable for the zero rate of stamp duty land tax on house purchases below £250,000 since 2010.

Chloe Smith: Since April 2010, 815 transactions claimed stamp duty land tax (SDLT) first-time buyers' relief in the London borough of Bexley. This relief exempts from charge qualifying transactions where the chargeable consideration is above the zero per cent SDLT threshold and up to £250,000.
	No reliable data are available on a parliamentary constituency basis.

Tax Avoidance

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to bring forward proposals for a general taxation anti-avoidance rule.

David Gauke: The study group led by Graham Aaronson QC looking at a possible GAAR for the UK delivered its report in November 2011. The Government have announced that they will make their formal response in the 2012 Budget.

Tax Avoidance: Bookmakers

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to tackle tax and levy avoidance by offshore bookmakers.

David Gauke: General betting duty (GBD) is charged on bets made with a bookmaker who is in the UK. Bets made with a bookmaker who is offshore and outside the UK are outside the scope of GBD.
	The Horserace Betting Levy is administered by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, an independent public body sponsored by the Department for Culture Media and Sport.

Tax Credit: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) the London borough of Bexley were in receipt of (i) working tax credit and (ii) child tax credit at the latest date for which figures are available.

David Gauke: This information is published in the HMRC snapshot publication “Personal Tax Credits: Provisional Statistics—Geographical Statistics”. Information for December 2011 can be found at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-dec2011.pdf
	Table 3 has this information by local authority and table 4 has this information by Westminster parliamentary constituency.

Tax Relief: Manufacturing Industries

Chris White: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse was of tax relief for the manufacturing sector in each of the last three years.

David Gauke: Information on all tax reliefs received by the manufacturing industry is not available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Taxation: Gambling

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the level of revenue that would accrue from the introduction of an online gambling tax.

Chloe Smith: Online gambling supplied from the UK is currently subject to general betting duty, remote gaming duty or pool betting duty. The Government are reviewing the case for changing the basis of taxation for remote gambling by moving to a place of consumption basis of taxation. No decision has been taken on whether to proceed with reform.
	The revenue that a place of consumption based taxation regime would generate would depend on rates and design of the regime.

Working Tax Credit

Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of families in Warrington North constituency who will no longer be entitled to working tax credit as a result of the change to the number of working hours needed to qualify to be introduced on 1 April 2012.

David Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 10 January 2012, Official Report, column 72.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Metal: Theft

Gloria De Piero: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what the cost was of metal theft from Church of England property in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire, (c) the East Midlands and (d) England in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011.

Tony Baldry: The insurance cover available from Ecclesiastical Insurance who insure the majority of churches in England has changed over the years in question, so a true year-on-year comparison of cost is difficult to make.
	The following tables illustrate the claims made by Church of England Churches on their Ecclesiastical Insurance policies for theft of metal. The figures are likely to be higher in reality as not all the churches concerned will have made claims on their insurance unless the value of the claim exceeded the insurance excess which will have varied from church to church.
	(i) and (ii):
	Total value of cost to the Church of England for:
	2010 was around £6.5 million of which around £2.3 million was covered by insurance.
	2011was around £10 million of which around £4.4 million was covered by insurance.
	(a) Figures are not available for the Ashfield constituency.
	(b) The total claims from churches in the county of Nottinghamshire and the surrounding counties:
	
		
			  2009 2010 2011 Total 
			  Claims Cost (£) Claims Cost (£) Claims Cost (£) Claims Cost (£) 
			 Nottinghamshire 40 50,967 43 85,023 115 206,920 198 342,910 
			 East Midland Counties 120 207,673 158 228,489 295 550,146 573 986,308 
			 England 914 173,315 1712 2,218,830 2516 4,376,814 5142 6,768,959 
			 Note: East Midlands Counties comprise Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire. 
		
	
	(c) The total claims from churches in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham and other Dioceses in the East Midlands:
	
		
			  2009 2010 2011 Total 
			  Claims Cost (£) Claims Cost (£) Claims Cost (£) Claims Cost (£) 
			 Southwell and Nottingham Diocese 48 64,784 49 101,896 85 154,406 182 321,086 
			 East Midlands Dioceses in total 171 322,507 237 482,315 342 640,082 750 1,444,904 
			 Note: East Midlands Dioceses comprise Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Peterborough and Southwell and Nottingham.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Action for Employment

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what contracts with his Department and its agencies A4e (a) is bidding for and (b) has been awarded but have not yet commenced either independently or in partnership with other companies.

Norman Lamb: holding answer 1 March 2012
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have no contracts with A4e.
	Further information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	I have asked chief executives of the Executive agencies to respond to the hon. Member direct.
	Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 28 February 2012
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 27 February, UIN 97480 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Companies House has never tendered or awarded any contracts, either independently or in partnership with other companies, to A4e.
	Letter from Stephen Speed, dated February 2012
	The Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question what contracts with his Department and its agencies A4e (a) is bidding for and (b) has been awarded but have not yet commenced either independently or in partnership with other companies.
	The Insolvency Service is not in receipt of any contract bids from A4e and has not awarded any contracts to A4e either independently or in partnership with other companies.
	Letter from John Alty, dated 28 February 2012
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 27 February 2012, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Intellectual Property Office does not have any contracts that A4e is either (a) bidding for or (b) has been awarded but have not yet commenced either independently or in partnership with other companies.
	Letter from Peter Mason, dated 29 February 2012
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 27 February 2012, asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills about contracts with the Department or its agencies which A4e may be bidding for or have been awarded but have not yet commenced.
	NMO has no contracts with A4e, either in force or awarded but not yet commenced. Nor are there any contracts open for bidding which we would expect to be appropriate for A4e.
	Letter from Dr Vanessa Lawrence, dated 28 February 2012
	As Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, I have been asked to reply to you in response to your Parliamentary Question asking what contracts with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and its agencies A4e (a) is bidding for and (b) has been awarded but have not yet commenced either independently or in partnership with other companies.
	Ordnance Survey has no contracts out to tender, or awarded but not yet commenced which involve A4e either as a sole bidder or in partnership with any other company. Ordnance Survey has had no record of any contractual dealings with A4e.
	I hope this information is of use.
	Letter from David Williams, dated February 2012
	Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills regarding, what contracts with his Department and its agencies A4e (a) is bidding for and (b) has been awarded but have not yet commenced either independently or in partnership with other companies. (97480)
	Please be advised that A4e is not bidding for nor has it been awarded any contracts that have not yet commenced with the UK Space Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Letter from John Hirst, dated 29 February 2012
	I am replying on behalf of the Met Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 27 February, UIN 97480 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Met Office has no record of any contracts that A4e is either bidding for or has been awarded but have not yet commenced either independently or in partnership with other companies.
	I hope this helps.
	Letter from Malcolm Dawson, dated 28 February 2012
	I am writing in regard to the Parliamentary Question you tabled on 27 February 2012 which asked the following:
	To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what contracts with his Department and its agencies A4e (a) is bidding for and (b) has been awarded but have not yet commenced either independently or in partnership with other companies.
	I can advise on behalf of Land Registry, which is an executive agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, that A4e is not currently bidding for nor have they been awarded any contracts with our agency.
	Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 5 March 2012
	Thank you for your question in asking the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what contracts with his Department and its agencies A4e (a) is bidding for and (b) has been awarded but have not yet commenced either independently or in partnership with other companies.
	The Agency is obliged to comply with EU public procurement rules when awarding contracts. This means that we take award decisions in accordance with the process and criteria, which have been published.
	In accordance with these rules, A4e has been awarded an OLASS 4 contract. The award we have made to all providers is conditional on supply of the necessary references and evidence to support their bid. We have not yet signed any binding agreement on any of the OLASS 4 offers, and will only do so when providers have demonstrated that they can fulfil the terms of the service specification to which we have procured against. This process is likely take some months.

Business: Government Assistance

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what support schemes for business are operated by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 1 March 2012
	The following support schemes are operated by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS):
	Designing Demand (delivered by the Design Council rather than BIS)
	National Manufacturing Advisory Service
	Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative
	Business Angels
	Green Investment Bank
	Business Coaching for Growth
	Leadership and Management Advisory Service
	Employer Ownership Pilot
	Improved BusinessLink.gov
	K Innovation Investment Fund
	Apprenticeships
	Enterprise Capital Funds
	TSB Innovation Schemes
	Mentoring (mentorsme and Get Mentoring)
	Venture Capital Trust Funds
	Enterprise Finance Guarantee
	Venture Capital Schemes
	Regional Growth Fund
	Export Enterprise Finance Guarantee
	UK Export Finance (delivered by UKEF rather than BIS).
	Grant for Business Investment
	Smart
	Collaborative R&D
	Knowledge Transfer Networks
	Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
	Small Business Research Initiative
	Eureka Eurostars
	English and maths
	Leadership and management skills support—prioritised on fast growing SME
	Growth and Innovation Fund
	Employer Ownership Pilot
	Investors in People.
	UK Trade and Investment provides a range of support and services, accessed either through their international trade advisers or their staff in 97 overseas markets. These include:
	Passport to Export
	Gateway to Global Growth
	Tradeshow Access Programme
	Export Market Research Scheme
	Export Communications Review
	Market Visit Support
	Overseas Market Information Service.
	I have asked chief executives of the executive agencies to respond directly to my hon. Friend.
	Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 23 February 2010
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 22 February 2012, UIN 96762, to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Companies House does not operate any specific support schemes for business but it does put considerable effort into helping companies comply with their statutory responsibilities.
	Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 27 February 2012
	The Secretary of State, Department for Business. Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question what support schemes for business are operated by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies.
	There are statutory provisions in place that enable the Insolvency Service's Redundancy Payments Service (RPS) to pay employees who have obtained a tribunal award against their employer for statutory redundancy if the employer fails to pay. The RPS also has discretion to offer financial assistance to employers who are unable to meet the lump sum redundancy payment at once without jeopardising other jobs, without the need for the employee to get a tribunal award, when approached by an employer, employee or employment tribunal. The criteria for receiving this assistance are very strict. Payment is made direct to the employees but only if the employer first proves that the redundancies are genuine, he cannot finance the payment by any other means, that other jobs will be saved, and that repayment to the NIF will be made as soon as possible but within 3 years of the RPS paying the employees.
	Letter from John Alty, dated 29 February 2012
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 22 February 2012, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Intellectual Property Office—an executive Agency of BIS—offers the following support schemes for businesses:
	1. IP Healthcheck online diagnostic tool—free diagnostic toolkit aimed at SMEs.
	2. Regional Awareness events—free half day Intellectual Property (IP) awareness seminars for SMEs across the UK.
	3. Publications—The booklets cover a range of topics including IP, Licensing, Non-Disclosure Agreements, Agreeing a price for IP rights and choosing the Right IP advisor.
	4. IP Insight—the IPO's free monthly e-newsletter bringing SMEs the latest developments in Intellectual Property (IP) news.
	5. IP Primers—a series of guides published by the IPO and UKTI to help British companies in major markets around the world.
	6. Exhibitions and seminars—offering delegates advice and information about the benefits businesses gain from understanding, using and protecting their intellectual property.
	7. IP audits—An IP audit can help a business identify unexploited or unprotected IP and develop management strategies for maximising the value they gain from their IP.
	Letter from Peter Mason, dated 27 February 2010
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 22 February 2012, asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what support schemes for business are operated by his Department and its agencies.
	NMO do not operate any direct support schemes for business.
	Letter from Dr Vanessa Lawrence CB, dated 27 February 2012
	As Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, I have been asked to reply to you in response to your Parliamentary Question asking what support schemes for business are operated by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and its agencies.
	As a Government Trading Fund, Ordnance Survey engages with a wide range of businesses as a supplier, as a partner and as a customer.
	To those businesses that are customers of Ordnance Survey and use our data, a support network, including a dedicated and expertly staffed Pre and Post Sales support team, is in place to ensure businesses are able to maximise the value they obtain from the information they license from Ordnance Survey. For businesses who may wish to use Ordnance Survey data, licences are available which enable free testing and evaluation, enabling businesses to experiment with a dataset prior to licensing it. Support also extends to the retail trade who stock and sell our paper maps, and for whom a range of resources are available from Ordnance Survey to assist them.
	Ordnance Survey also partners with over 200 businesses who license our data to provide products and services to industry, commerce and consumers. To support those who may wish to become partners, an Innovation Licence is in place which provides an ecosystem for organisations interested in building commercial offerings based upon Ordnance Survey data to sample data, and support to help them develop their applications and services. Many organisations in this programme then go on to commercialise their offering and become part of our partner and strategic alliances channel.
	In addition, OS OpenData™ was launched in April 2010, offering access to a wide range of Ordnance Survey's digital mapping datasets free of charge for onward re-use, including for commercial purposes. OS OpenData offers businesses, as well as other users, the chance to use Ordnance Survey data both to develop new commercial opportunities and to improve business processes. Ordnance Survey also makes available an applications programming interface (API), OS OpenSpace®, which enables innovators and developers of websites to embed mapping information from a wide range of Ordnance Survey digital data products. Access to this API and the portfolio of products available through it are free, including for some commercial applications.
	Finally, Ordnance Survey facilitates an open innovation initiative called GeoVation which provides support, and in some cases funding, to organisations and individuals seeking to develop ideas which use geography in order to bring about social, economic and environmental benefit. Since its inception, this initiative has provided support and funding to small businesses, social enterprises and other community-based organisations.
	I hope this information is of use.
	Letter from David Williams
	Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills regarding, what support schemes for business are operated by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies. (96762)
	The UK Space Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not directly operate any support schemes for businesses but its strategy is designed to help industry as a whole and we do implement activities under BIS schemes.
	Letter from John Hirst, dated 27 February 2012
	I am replying on behalf of the Met Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 22 February, UIN96762, to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Met Office is recognised globally as a leading weather and climate service. As well as delivering a first-rate public service, including the issue of severe weather warnings which contribute to the protection of life, property and infrastructure, we work on a commercial basis, providing services to a broad range of businesses which can be affected by the weather. In addition, we provide tailored advice and services to help businesses adapt to the consequences of climate change. We also work to take science to the market and thereby help stimulate innovative use in the economy.
	We are committed to operating ethically and with integrity across all our business relationships, including our interaction with suppliers. For example, we implement best practice in our procurement activities, focusing on achieving value for money, transparency and ensuring the fair and equitable treatment of suppliers. In this context, we encourage participation of SMEs and the Third Sector in our supply opportunities and we work to remove some of the barriers faced by these organisations during the purchasing process. We have also participated in Business in the Community initiatives aimed to help businesses build an understanding of how they can become more resilient to extreme weather and a changing climate.
	I hope this helps.
	Letter from Malcolm Dawson, dated 28 February 2012
	I am writing in regard to the Parliamentary Question you tabled on 22 February 2012 which asked the following:
	To ask the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what support schemes for business are operated by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies.
	I can advise on behalf of Land Registry, which is an executive agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, that we do not currently operate any support schemes for business.
	Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 5 March 2012
	Thank you for your question in asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what support schemes for business are operated by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies.
	Please be advised that the Skills Funding Agency (the Agency) including the National Apprenticeship Service supports employers to engage in and deliver Apprenticeships and other skills programmes to its workforce.
	Where employers request it, the Agency contracts directly with large employers. Smaller employers are supported through colleges and providers that are funded by the Skills Funding Agency. The Agency offers a single Adult Skills Budget within which the approved provider base (including employers) can engage learners and receive funding for the skills programmes previously mentioned but also for English and Mathematics.
	English/Mathematics and Adult Basic Skills (ABS)
	Following the Wolf Review of Vocational Education and BIS review of adult literacy and numeracy provision, BIS set out in “New Challenges, New Chances (December 2011)” that it will fund GCSE English and Maths qualifications for adults from August 2012. Functional English and Maths qualifications from Entry level up to and including Level 2 will also be funded. In addition Entry Level ABS qualifications will continue to be fundable in 2012/13.
	Apprenticeships
	The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) within the Skills Funding Agency supports, funds and co-ordinates the delivery of Apprenticeships throughout England.
	NAS is responsible for increasing the number of high quality Apprenticeship opportunities and providing a dedicated, responsive service for both employers and learners. This includes simplifying the process of recruiting an apprentice through Apprenticeship vacancies, an online system where employers can advertise their Apprenticeship job vacancies and potential apprentices can apply.
	NAS also manages Worldskills UK, a portfolio of skills competitions and activities run in partnership with organisations from industry and education.
	Apprenticeships bring considerable value to organisations, employers, individuals and the economy. Businesses across the country are increasingly realising the enormous benefits that Apprenticeships create, not only in terms of developing a highly skilled workforce but also by boosting productivity and staff retention. Research shows that Apprenticeships are an optimal way of training, developing and up skilling people for the future, helping businesses to secure a supply of people with the skills and qualities they need and which are often not available on the external job market.
	National Skills Academies
	In addition to funding Apprenticeships and other skills qualifications, the Agency works with BIS to fund National Skills Academies. National Skills Academies have been established, shaped and led by employers to strengthen and improve business competitiveness in key areas of the economy. They deliver specialised skills to employees and learners to help them respond to employers' business needs.
	National Skills Academies work with Sector Skills Councils and other industry bodies to drive change and achieve the priorities identified by employers for their sector. They act as a first point of contact for employers to quality-assured training provision.
	Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF)
	The Agency also partners UKCES in the promotion and management of the Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF) which helps employers develop their own innovative, sustainable skills solutions which have the potential to transform growth in their sector, region or supply chain. The skills and entrepreneurship of people up and down supply chains in different sectors of the economy can be a greater source of competitive advantage than ever before.
	GIF offers an opportunity for businesses to benefit from a powerful injection of public investment to support ideas that would not otherwise get off the ground. GIF will co-invest up to £34 million with employers in 2012-13, with comparable levels of investment planned for the following two years. £29m remains available in 2012-13 for new projects with the balance sustaining existing GIF projects.
	A variety of successful projects from our first round of bids are already under way with employers and other partners working together to create the tailored solutions that will grow the skills businesses need. These solutions all have a realistic prospect of taking root, achieving a sustainable future with further public investment and making a positive impact on growth.
	Leadership and Management Advisory Service
	The Skills Funding Agency operates the Leadership and Management Advisory Service, which is a skills support programme targeting key individuals within high growth Small to Medium Enterprises. The programme's budget for 2011/12 is £20m and the service is delivered through five contracted providers covering the nine English regions. The service offer consists of three elements:
	1) An initial skills diagnostic and personal development plan
	2) A grant of up to £1,000 (of which £500 must be matched by the employer) to up-skill a leader/decision maker
	3) A follow-up advice and guidance session.
	The programme is due to close at the end of March 2012 and will be replaced by a new Business Coaching for Growth programme, which will have a similar Leadership and Management element including the £1,000 grant. This new programme is managed and contracted by BIS.

Carbon Emissions

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how much funding from the European development fund was allocated to low-carbon projects in the UK in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009, (e) 2010 and (f) 2011;
	(2)  how many businesses in the UK received funding for low-carbon projects from the European development fund in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009, (e) 2010 and (f) 2011.

Mark Prisk: Information regarding funding from the European regional development fund for these purposes will be placed in the libraries of the House once the data has been collated.

Clinical Trials: EU Law

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the Clinical Trials Directive on the competitiveness of the life sciences industry in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: In November 2010, the Government launched the healthcare and life sciences growth review. The review involved the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills working closely with the Department of Health, and with business, in an intensive programme of work to identify and remove barriers to life sciences investment.
	This led to the publication of the growth review alongside the 2011 Budget
	http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_growth.pdf
	and set out an ambitious package of measures to strengthen UK competitiveness, including a commitment to influence the Commission to bring forward soundly based proposals to reduce regulatory burdens in the European Clinical Trials Directive.
	The European Commission has announced proposals to revise the directive. The draft of the final Commission proposals is expected during 2012 when formal negotiations can take place.
	The Government believe that clearer definitions of the terms used in the directive, together with the adoption of a risk adapted approach to the regulation of trials, will reduce the scope for differing interpretations in member states, and inconsistencies in their application across the EU and ensure that regulatory oversight of all clinical trials is proportionate to risk. Greater consistency across the EU will also help to remove barriers to conducting multi-state clinical trials.

College of International Co-operation and Development

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on the activities of the College of International Co-operation and Development in Winestead, East Riding of Yorkshire.

John Hayes: We are not aware of any representations on the activities of the College of International Co-operation and Development in Winestead, East Riding of Yorkshire.

Competition Commission: Manpower

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many full-time equivalent staff (a) work and (b) are planned to work for (i) the Competition Commission and (ii) the Office of Fair Trading; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: Currently the Competition Commission has 123 full-time equivalent staff (FTE) on their payroll. The Office of Fair trading (OFT) employs 540 FTE staff. There are no figures available on future planned staff levels at either organisation.

Construction: Schools

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills following the postponement of the Department for Education's Priority Schools Building Programme, what discussions he has had with the Department for Education on the effect on construction firms and their supply chains; and what assessment his Department has made of the change in levels of construction activity as a result of this decision.

Mark Prisk: Partnerships for Schools is currently assessing all applications for funding through the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP). To support this, it has arranged a site visit to all schools that have applied in order to validate the application and survey information provided.
	This exercise will help ensure a rigorous and consistent approach to the consideration of all applications based on the condition of the schools.
	We acknowledge the high level of interest in this programme but it is very important that this work is not rushed and an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

Consumers: Protection

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) illegal money-lending teams and (b) scambusters teams; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: Government reviews the performance of the Scambuster and Illegal Money Lending Teams on a quarterly basis.
	The Government plan to publish their response to the consultation on the reform of the consumer landscape, including the Scambusters and Illegal Money Lending Teams, in March this year. The Government will make a written statement in conjunction with the publication.

Copyright

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Department's Impact Assessment of 2 November 2011, BIS0317, on copyright exceptions, 
	(1)  whether his Department has estimated the monetised costs and benefits by main affected groups of option one to expand the types of works covered by education exceptions and enable copies to be communicated to students via interactive displays;
	(2)  whether his Department has estimated the monetised costs and benefits by main affected groups of option two to increase the proportion of a copyright work that can be copied under the education exceptions;
	(3)  whether his Department has estimated the monetised costs and benefits by main affected groups of option three to expand the definition of current education exceptions to enable distance learners to access educational materials over secure networks;
	(4)  whether his Department has estimated the monetised costs and benefits by main affected groups of option four to widen the definition of an educational establishment;
	(5)  whether his Department has estimated the monetised costs and benefits by main affected groups of option five to remove or limit the ability of licensing arrangements to restrict the use of exceptions.

Norman Lamb: The Impact Assessment in question is preliminary in nature. It provides illustrative estimates of potential costs and benefits in relation to the main affected groups, but it recognises that further data is needed before monetised estimates can be made. The Government are currently seeking more detailed evidence on the costs and benefits to all parties who could be affected by the proposals, through public consultation.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what reduction in carbon dioxide emissions his Department has made under the 10:10 initiative.

Norman Lamb: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills achieved an 11.5% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions under the 10:10 initiative. This was achieved from May 2010 to May 2011 and performance details of all Government Departments and the initiative as a whole can be found on:
	http://data.gov.uk/departmental-performance-co2-emissions-reduction-date
	Savings are continuing to be realised as a result of the energy efficiency initiatives undertaken. These included installation of technology, reducing building plant operating times, estate rationalisation and behaviour change. These actions are helping BIS to achieve the 25% reduction in carbon emissions from the estate and domestic travel, by the end of 2014/15, as required by the Greening Government Commitments.

Export Controls

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department takes to provide information for UK exporters on avoiding breaking sanctions and export bans.

Mark Prisk: The Export Control Organisation (ECO) maintains a website that provides up to date information on all aspects of export controls. This can be found at:
	http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/exportcontrol
	and is the easiest way for an exporter to find information about UK export control requirements. This website provides the facility for an exporter to sign up to receive the ECO mailing list of Notices to Exporters to receive the latest information on changes to export controls.
	The ECO also operates a Control List Classification Advice Service that provides a technical assessment of goods to be exported and whether they are listed on a Control List. The option for an exporter to self-rate his goods through the use of online CheckerTools is also available through the website. In cases where there is an export of non-listed dual-use or military goods, an exporter can ask for advice from the ECO where there maybe concerns about end-use by using the End-User Advice service.
	Officials from the ECO also run an extensive seminar programme on the different elements of export controls across the UK and these have included specific events focusing on sanctions and embargoes.

Exports: Saudi Arabia

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to increase exports to Saudi Arabia.

Mark Prisk: Saudi Arabia is one of UK Trade & Investment's (UKTI) designated high growth markets and receives considerable focus and attention from Ministers and officials. HRH the Duke of York, the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend, Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, the Under-Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my noble Friend, Lord Marland, and the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, my noble Friend, Lord Sassoon, and the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), have all visited in recent months promoting UK commercial interests and identifying new opportunities for British companies. Saudi Arabia is integral to HMG's Gulf Initiative
	UKTI have indentified five particular high value opportunities which appear to offer the best chances for UK companies to win multi-million pound contracts, with supply chain opportunities for UK small and medium-sized enterprises. These opportunities are in petrochemicals, railways, water and wastewater, airports, healthcare and education. UKTI continues to support trade missions visiting Saudi Arabia and provide bespoke market research for UK companies.
	The forthcoming Saudi British Joint Business Council (SBJBC) scheduled for 22 March will bring together UK and Saudi businesses to explore these and other potential opportunities. SBJBC will also address barriers to trade and investment, in particular institutional issues, management and financial challenges.

Exports: Tunisia

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value of exports to Tunisia was, broken down by type of export in the last year for which figures are available.

Mark Prisk: The monetary value of goods exports to Tunisia during 2011 are shown in the following table, in order of magnitude. A breakdown of services exports is not available.
	In total, the UK exported goods to the value of £146 million to Tunisia in 2011.
	
		
			 UK exports of goods to Tunisia at two digit SITC level—2011 
			 SITC code Description £000 
			 65 Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up articles, nes 18,723 
			 72 Specialised industrial machinery 15,381 
			 54 Medicinal and pharmaceutical products 12,679 
			 77 Electrical machinery, nes and electrical parts thereof 12,366 
			 84 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories 10,018 
			 74 General industrial machinery and equipment, and parts nes 9,671 
			 69 Manufactures of metal nes 6,848 
			 79 Other transport equipment 6,029 
			 87 Professional, scientific and control instruments 5,466 
			 89 Miscellaneous manufactured article nes 4,106 
			 75 Office machines and ADP equipment 4,082 
			 71 Power generating machinery and equipment 4,016 
			 67 Iron and steel 3,554 
			 57 Plastics in primary forms 3,296 
		
	
	
		
			 53 Dyeing, tanning and colouring materials 3,013 
			 55 Essential oils, resinoids, perfumes and cleansing prep. 2,868 
			 78 Road vehicles 2,801 
			 34 Gas, natural and manufactured 2,776 
			 59 Chemical materials and products nes 2,612 
			 68 Non-ferrous metals 1,860 
			 76 Telecoms and sound recording and reproducing apparatus 1,668 
			 58 Plastics in non-primary forms 1,578 
			 27 Crude fertilisers other than those of div. 56 922 
			 64 Paper, paperboard, and articles of paper pulp; etc. 819 
			 51 Organic chemicals 795 
			 73 Metalworking machinery 575 
			 26 Textile fibres 552 
			 62 Rubber manufactures nes 531 
			 11 Beverages 504 
			 23 Crude rubber (incl. synthetic and reclaimed) 501 
			 02 Dairy products and birds' eggs 485 
			 88 Photo and optical equipment, supplies, watches and clocks 482 
			 08 Feeding stuff for animals not incl. unmilled cereals 458 
			 52 Inorganic chemicals 341 
			 82 Furniture; bedding, mattresses, supports, cushions etc. 332 
			 66 Non-metallic mineral manufactures 299 
			 05 Vegetables and fruit 253 
			 33 Petroleum, and petroleum products 196 
			 00 Live animals other than of Div. 03 132 
			 09 Miscellaneous edible products and preparations 122 
			 07 Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and manufactures thereof 85 
			 81 Prefabricated buildings; plumbing, heating and lighting 72 
			 21 Hides, skins and furskins, raw 70 
			 63 Cork and wood manufactures (excl. furniture) 70 
			 06 Sugar, sugar preparations and honey 70 
			 04 Cereals and cereal preparations 67 
			 85 Footwear 57 
			 56 Fertilizers,(other than those of group 272) 44 
			 61 Leather, leather manufactures nes and dressed furskins 39 
			 32 Coal, coke and briquettes 22 
			 42 Fixed vegetable fats and oils 11 
			 25 Pulp and waste paper 10 
			 83 Travel goods, handbags and similar containers 9 
		
	
	
		
			 29 Crude animal and vegetable materials 6 
			 41 Animal oils and fats 4 
			 28 Metalliferous ores and metal scrap 4 
			 01 Meat and meat preparations 0 
			 03 Fish, (not marine mammals), crustaceans, molluscs, etc 0 
			 12 Tobacco and tobacco manufactures 0 
			 22 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruit 0 
			 24 Cork and wood 0 
			 35 Electric current 0 
			 43 Animal and vegetable oils and fats, processed, and waxes 0 
			 9 Other goods not elsewhere specified 1,345 
			  Total UK exports of goods to Tunisia 145,693 
			 nes = not elsewhere specified Source: BIS analysis of data from HM Revenue and Customs

Higher Education

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what administrative requirements higher education providers must complete in order for their courses to be designated; and if he will publish the submissions by higher education providers associated with this process.

David Willetts: The arrangements for course designation depend on whether the courses are being provided by a publicly funded or privately funded institution. In most cases eligible higher education courses provided by publicly funded institutions in the UK are automatically designated for student support and institutions input details of eligible courses directly onto the Student Loans Company's (SLC) course database.
	All full-time distance learning courses and eligible higher education courses provided by privately funded institutions may be specifically designated on a course by course basis for the purposes of student support at the discretion of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable).
	Institutions that wish to have courses specifically designated must complete an application form for each course they wish to have designated. They must also supply a current prospectus providing details of the course; a validation document from the validating body that demonstrates that a recognised UK award-making body validates the course to be run at the specific private institution; and, for full-time courses a timetable must be submitted providing details of the intensity of study. If the applications are approved the institutions have to complete a data capture form for SLC's Higher Institutions (HEIs) database team to enable the course details to be uploaded on the SLC course database.
	A list of courses that have been specifically designated is published on the SLC's website
	http://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/policy-information/designated-courses/full-list.aspx
	We do not routinely publish a list of all submissions for specific designation as there is a public interest in ensuring that the commercial interests of external businesses, such as those who have had their applications for the specific designation of courses rejected, are not damaged or undermined by disclosure of information which is not common knowledge and which could adversely impact on future business.

Higher Education

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what criteria must be met by a higher education provider in order for a course to be designated.

David Willetts: Eligible full- and part-time higher education courses provided by publicly funded institutions in the UK are automatically designated under the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2009, as amended. Full-time distance learning courses and eligible courses delivered at privately funded institutions may be specifically designated on a course by course basis for the purposes of student support at the discretion of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable).
	Institutions that wish to have a course specifically designated apply to the Student Loans Company (SLC). Applications are assessed by the SLC against the course designation criteria in the Education (Student Support) Regulations which include course type, duration and mode of study. In addition all courses must be validated by a recognised UK awarding body such as a university. This provides quality assurance.
	BIS undertakes further checks on organisations that are applying for specific designation for the first time. These include consideration of management and governance, financial stability and longevity of an organisation. If the Department is satisfied that the course meets the course eligibility criteria; and that the provider does not pose a risk to the use of public funds; the course is specifically designated.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to reply to the letter of 6 February 2012 from the hon. Member for Walsall North; ref 281401.

Norman Lamb: I replied to the hon. Member's letter on 1 March 2012.

Multimedia: Archives

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Intellectual Property Office has commissioned research on the amount of audio-visual information archived by further and higher education institutions.

Norman Lamb: The Intellectual Property Office has not commissioned research on this topic.

Student Loans Company

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how often (a) Ministers in his Department and (b) civil servants within his Department have met representatives of the Student Loans Company about designated higher education courses; on what dates such meetings took place; what was discussed at each such meeting; and if he will list those meetings and the issues discussed.

David Willetts: There have been no meetings between BIS Ministers and the Student Loans Company (SLC) about designated higher education courses.
	BIS officials work closely with the SLC on the operational implications of course designations. This includes frequent telephone and e-mail contact. Discussions have typically addressed outstanding applications and inquiries; the application pack and forms; and updates on regulatory reform issues.

Student Loans Company

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will publish correspondence received from the Student Loans Company in respect of bi-annual reviews of providers of designated higher education courses.

David Willetts: The Student Loans Company (SLC) undertake a review of all specifically designated courses every two to three years. This requires providers to confirm that the course details the SLC hold are correct and that the designated courses are still running. Straightforward changes to validating arrangements or if courses are no longer running are dealt with by SLC. In some cases, such as a change of course name, duration or mode of study the change requires formal approval by BIS. We do not record centrally which change of circumstances arise specifically from the review and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.

Student Loans Company

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many private higher education courses have been designated as eligible for student support after a negative recommendation by the Student Loans Company; and what the (a) name and (b) institution of each such course is.

David Willetts: No private higher education courses have been designated as eligible for student support after a negative recommendation by the Student Loans Company.

Students: Work Experience

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of university students spent a year in industry as part of their degree in England, broken down by (a) region and (b) county in each of the last five years.

David Willetts: holding answer 1 March 2012
	The latest available information on full-time first degree enrolments, including those enrolled on sandwich course, at English high education institutions is shown in the following table for each of the last five years. Information in the table is broken down by region of institution and a total for England is also given. Information on county of institution is unavailable as it is not centrally held. Information for the 2011-12 academic year will become available from January 2013.
	
		
			 Full- time first degree enrolments (1) by region of institution. English higher education institutions—academic years 2006-07 to 2010-11 
			  2006 - 07 2007- 08 2008- 09 
			 Region of institution Enrolments of which sandwich course % sandwich course Enrolments of which sandwich course % sandwich course Enrolments of which sandwich course % sandwich course 
			 North-east 53,125 6,855 12.9 52,675 6,550 12.4 53,905 6,300 11.7 
			 North-west 124,840 7,970 6.4 129,955 9,180 7.1 131,195 7,450 5.7 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 106,720 16,075 15.1 109,785 16,005 14.6 113,135 16,050 14.2 
			 East midlands 85,195 10,575 12.4 86,390 11,615 13.4 90,425 11,660 12.9 
			 West midlands 83,480 11,915 14.3 85,345 12,365 14.5 88,105 12,045 13.7 
			 East 55,450 4,020 7.3 56,330 5,415 9.6 58,900 4,035 6.8 
			 London 168,400 9,340 5.5 172,215 8,985 5.2 179,385 8,580 4.8 
			 South-east 121,900 10,500 8.6 127,655 11,605 9.1 131,485 14,230 10.8 
			 South-west 80,335 18,520 23.1 83,230 17,675 21.2 86,935 16,580 19.1 
			 Total England 879,450 95,765 10.9 903,580 99,400 11.0 933,470 96,925 10.4 
		
	
	
		
			  2009- 10 2010- 11 
			 Region of institution Enrolments of which sandwich course % sandwich course Enrolments of which sandwich course % sandwich course 
			 North-east 55,295 6,560 11.9 57,680 7,180 12.4 
			 North-west 137,965 7,630 5.5 142,980 8,615 6.0 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 117,835 16,830 14.3 121,500 17,745 14.6 
			 East midlands 96,070 11,585 12.1 99,265 11,030 11.1 
			 West midlands 94,040 12,080 12.8 98,370 12,540 12.7 
			 East 64,810 4,750 7.3 67,605 4,070 6.0 
			 London 186,955 8,105 4.3 193,325 7,775 4.0 
			 South-east 137,675 14,630 10.6 143,665 16,050 11.2 
			 South-west 91,925 18,320 19.9 94,830 18,445 19.5 
			 Total England 982,565 100,490 10.2 1,019,220 103,460 10.2 
			 (1) Covers students of all domiciles in all years of study. Notes: 1. Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population. 2. Percentages are based on unrounded figures and are given to one decimal place. 3. Where it is not yet known whether or not the student will undertake a placement the student will initially be encoded as not having enrolled on a sandwich programme. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record

Supermarkets: Farmers

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of farm-gate prices paid by supermarkets on the livelihood of farmers.

James Paice: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
	Grocery retailers purchase relatively little directly from UK farmers. For example, most fresh produce is supplied to grocery retailers through intermediaries such as packers, processors and fresh food wholesalers. Six large grocery retailers told the Competition Commission that the combined total value of their direct purchases from farmers amounted to approximately £295 million in 2006. This compares to £14.3 billion in total agricultural production annually and £16.7 billion in fresh food sales by these grocery retailers in total. However, the Competition Commission did find that all large grocery retailers have extensive buyer power in relation to some of their direct suppliers, and this allowed them to transfer “excessive risks or unexpected costs” to some of their suppliers. We are committed to setting up the groceries code adjudicator as soon as possible, to help remedy this imbalance, although the GCA will not have a direct remit over the price paid to the supplier.
	The Government believe that the market must drive both production and price levels and that this will ultimately help develop an efficient, profitable sector that can compete on the global market that we now operate in. Prices are a commercial matter, agreed by private negotiation within the parameters of competition law. Free and fair competition is the key to a healthy market. Retailers should not be prevented from securing the best deals and passing on benefits to consumers.

Tankers: Procurement

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with (i) Ministry of Defence Ministers and officials, (ii) Royal Navy personnel, (iii) UK businesses and (iv) trade associations to determine the capability of awarding the contract for Royal Navy fuel tankers to UK businesses; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: Ministers in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have not had meetings with Ministry of Defence Ministers or officials, Royal Navy personnel, UK businesses and trade associations to determine the capability of awarding the contract for Royal Navy fuel tankers to UK businesses. The procurement was run according to European Union and UK law where non-warlike goods such as auxiliary tankers are subject to competition, and was open to shipbuilders from the UK and across the world. The winning bidder's solution was the one assessed as offering the best value for money. While no UK companies submitted a final bid for the build contract, I understand that the UK content of the main contract is estimated to be up to 20%, with significant further investment in UK industry expected through customisation, trials and specialist engineering support.

Trade Descriptions Act 1968

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many prosecutions were brought under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: The Trade Descriptions Act 1968 was repealed in large part in 2008 with the introduction of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 which implemented the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive.
	Trading Standards Departments have reported to the Office of Fair Trading the following numbers of prosecutions and intended prosecutions:
	
		
			 Trade Descriptions Act 1968 
			  Number 
			 2006 825 
			 2007 709 
			 2008 498 
			 2009 263 
			 2010 52 
			 2011 12 
		
	
	
		
			 The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (1) 
			  Number 
			 2011 880 
			 (1) Since their introduction to end of 2011.

UK Trade and Investment: Libya

James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how big the UK Trade and Investment team in Libya is; what the team's budget is; what changes have been made to its (a) headcount and (b) budget in the last 12 months; and what reports he has received on the size of equivalent teams of the UK's international competitors.

Mark Prisk: The UK Trade and Investment team in Libya is currently eight strong. At present, the team does not have a predetermined budget. Instead it draws on a central budget in-country to fund a range of targeted activities in support of British business. This time last year there was no UKTI resource in Libya because of the conflict. I have received no formal reports on the size of equivalent teams of the UK's international competitors but I believe the British embassy has the largest commercial section of any mission in Tripoli by staff number or similar.

UK Trade and Investment: Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has had discussions on the opening of a UK Trade and Investment office in Wales.

Mark Prisk: The prospect of a UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) office in Wales has been raised formally with the Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), and the Minister of State for Trade and Investment my noble Friend the Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint. UKTI are currently considering a request from the Welsh Government on the establishment of a UKTI office in Wales.

HEALTH

Autism: Children

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders in each of the last five years.

Paul Burstow: That information is not collected centrally. The Office for National Statistics survey ‘Mental Health of Children and Young People in Great Britain’ (2004) found that 1.4% of boys and 0.3% of girls aged five to 16 had an autistic spectrum disorder.

Autism: Research

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department has provided for research into autistic spectrum disorders in each of the last five years.

Paul Burstow: Expenditure by the Department on research relating to autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) through research programmes, research centres and units, and research training awards is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2006-07 0.1 
			 2007-08 0.5 
			 2008-09 0.8 
			 2009-10 1.0 
			 2010-11 0.9 
		
	
	The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) is currently hosting nine studies relating to ASD that are in set-up or recruiting patients. Expenditure by the CRN on research relating to ASD cannot be disaggregated from total CRN expenditure.
	Prior to the establishment of the NIHR in April 2006, the main part of the Department's total health research expenditure was devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. From April 2006 to March 2009, transitional research funding was allocated to these organisations at reducing levels. The organisations have accounted for their use of the allocations they have received from the Department in an annual research and development report. The reports identify total, aggregated expenditure on some disease areas/ but do not provide details of spend on research relating to ASD.

Cancer: Health Services

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has made a comparative assessment of the approval of treatments for cancers which predominantly affect men and women by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Simon Burns: We have made no such assessment. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has recommended a number of treatments for cancers which are predominantly gender specific.

Carers: Standards

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what systems are in place to ensure that health care support workers have minimum levels of (a) competence and (b) integrity.

Simon Burns: All providers of health and social care regulated activities in England must be registered with the Care Quality Commission, and meet its registration requirements. These include a requirement that the provider must have suitable arrangements in place to ensure that staff receive appropriate training, professional development and appraisal, and must operate effective recruitment procedures to ensure staff are of good character.
	Registered professionals are also required to ensure that healthcare support workers are subject to relevant supervision and that they delegate to them appropriately.
	We have also commissioned Skills for Health and Skills for Care to produce a code of conduct and minimum standards for education for health care support workers and adult social care workers. This will in future set clear expectations about standards of training and conduct and support appropriate delegation.

Cervical Cancer: Lancashire

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) screenings for and (b) deaths from cervical cancer there were in Lancashire in each of the last three years.

Paul Burstow: The information requested on screening is not available for the Lancashire area as a whole. Information showing the numbers of women screened through the national health service cervical screening programme by primary care trusts (PCTs) in Lancashire for the years indicated is shown in table 1.
	Information showing the number of deaths where cervical cancer was the underlying cause for women in Lancashire county and by PCTs within Lancashire is shown in table 2.
	
		
			 Table 1: NHS Cervical Screening Programme: Target age group (25 to 64), number of women screened by Lancashire PCTs in each of the last three financial years. 
			  Number of women screened (thousand) (1) 
			 PCT Name 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Central Lancashire PCT 30:2 26.8 26.6 
			 East Lancashire Teaching PCT 22.8 22.3 21.9 
		
	
	
		
			 North Lancashire Teaching PCT 21.8 18.2 17.7 
			 (1 )Excluding those women all of whose tests during the year were classified as 'inadequate'. Notes: 1. Women between the ages of 25 and 64 are invited for regular cervical screening under the NHS cervical screening programme. This is intended to detect abnormalities within the cervix that could, if untreated, develop into cancer. It should be noted that the NHS cervical screening programme does not screen for cervical cancer as such but information is available from the programme on the number of women screened. 2. Information for the Lancashire area is not recorded. However, figures are available for Central Lancashire PCT, East Lancashire Teaching PCT and North Lancashire Teaching PCT. 3. Information is collected by financial year and is provided for women aged 25 to 64 years (the target age range for cervical screening). 4. The figures given in the table are also available in Table 12 (number of women screened) of the following reports: Cervical Screening Programme, England 2008-09 Cervical Screening Programme, England 2009-10 Cervical Screening Programme, England 2010-11 Source: The Health and Social Care Information Centre: “Cervical Screening Programme, England 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11”. 
		
	
	Information is provided by primary care organisation and is available on an annual basis.
	These reports have been placed in the Library and are also available on the Health and Social Care Information Centre website:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/screening/cervical-screening
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of deaths where cervical cancer was the underlying cause of death, 2008-09 to 2009-10 (1, 2, 3) 
			  Deaths (females) 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 (4) 
			 Lancashire County 24 26 — 
			     
			 PCT Name    
			 Central Lancashire PCT 10 9 — 
			 East Lancashire Teaching PCT 8 12 — 
			 North Lancashire Teaching PCT 6 5 — 
			 (1 )Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases; Tenth Revision (ICD- 10) code C53. (2 )Based on boundaries as of 2011. 3 Figures are for deaths which occurred in each financial year. (4 )Death registration data for 2011 will be available in summer 2012. Death occurrences data for 2011 (on which the financial year data is based) will be available in autumn 2012. Source: Office for National Statistics: Death Occurrences database

Children: Internet

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of children showing symptoms of addiction to (a) computers and (b) the internet.

Paul Burstow: No estimate has been made. While some researchers have described computer addiction and internet addiction, neither condition is currently recognised with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or International Classification of Diseases code.

Departmental Consultants

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2012, Official Report, column 115W, on departmental consultants, what the monetary value is of the contract referred to in the calendar year 2012.

Simon Burns: The total value of the Consumer Engagement Services contract January to March 2012 is £242,500, including an element of agreed performance payments. The remainder of the funding for the contract within calendar year 2012 is still subject to the Efficiency Reform Group.

Diabetes: Health Services

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which bodies are responsible for monitoring whether people with diabetes receive the nine healthcare checks recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines; and which bodies will be responsible for such checks following the implementation of the provisions of the Health and Social Care Bill.

Paul Burstow: Primary care trusts are currently accountable for delivery of care and thus responsible for monitoring service delivery. Diabetes features heavily in Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) and currently has 17 QOF indicators. Many of these indicators reflect the key tests and measures that people with diabetes should receive on an annual basis in line with the nine care processes recommended in 2011 by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
	Auditing of processes and outcomes is a means of monitoring. Those participating in the annual National Diabetes Audit submit information in response to the question, “What proportion of people registered with diabetes receives the key processes of diabetes care?” The NHS Atlas of Variation 2011 also compares those areas providing people with type I and II with the nine care processes.
	Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the NHS Commissioning Board will use the NHS Outcomes Framework and NICE quality standards to develop a proposed 2013-14 Commissioning Outcomes Framework and use this to hold clinical commissioning groups to account for the delivery of care, including the care of patients with long-term conditions, such as diabetes.
	General practitioners will have significant flexibility within the legislative framework to join together in the clinical commissioning group they want to form, and will have the flexibility to commission services in the ways that they judge will deliver the best outcomes for local people.

Emergency Services

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the national review of how urgent and emergency services should be categorised.

Simon Burns: The work being carried out on categorising urgent and emergency care services has not yet been completed, and internal discussions continue.

Health Services: North West

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that the risk assessment in respect of the decision to locate a hub for vascular surgery at the Countess of Chester hospital rather than at Warrington and Halton NHS Trust is published.

Simon Burns: Decisions about the publication of local national health service documents are a matter for the NHS locally.
	The “Vascular Services Review Mid-Mersey Impact Assessment”, October 2011, was published online by the local NHS in November 2011. It can be accessed on the Wirral primary care trust website at:
	www.wirral.nhs.uk/document_uploads/Boardcluster-Nov/Cluster-BoardPack-02-11-2011.pdf

Health Services: Regulation

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regulatory regime covers the activities of (a) NHS employees and (b) private sector health care support workers who (i) administer medicines, including insulin and controlled drugs, (ii) provide cover for registered nurses, (iii) manage fluids, including monitoring drips and drains, (iv) inject medicines, (v) insert NH tubes, (vi) plaster fractured limbs, (vii) monitor vital signs in patients and (viii) feed and bathe patients.

Simon Burns: All providers of health and social care regulated activities in England must be registered with the Care Quality Commission and are required to meet 16 registration requirements, which set out essential levels of safety and quality of care and treatment.
	This requires providers to ensure they have effective procedures in place to ensure that workers are fit for the job, have the right qualifications, skills and experience for their role, and are properly trained, supervised and. appraised.
	The Medicines Act 1968 controls the sale, supply and administration of all medicines in the United Kingdom. There are further legal requirements in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations in relation to controlled drugs.

Health Visitors: Leeds

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding he allocated for the provision of health visitors in Leeds North West constituency in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.

Paul Burstow: Information about the allocation of funding for the provision of health visitors in the Leeds North West constituency is not held centrally.
	The “Health Visitor Implementation Plan 2011-15—A Call to Action” was published in February 2011 and an accompanying management letter from the Department set out indicative trajectories of health visitor growth for each strategic health authority (SHA). It is for each SHA to agree with individual primary care trusts (PCTs) the specific levels of growth in their area and for the PCT to allocate appropriate funding. My hon. Friend may wish to contact the chief executive of Leeds PCT, which may hold some relevant information.
	Both a copy of the plan and letter have already been placed in the Library.

HealthWatch England

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role he proposes for hon. Members in determining the future of HealthWatch in their constituencies.

Simon Burns: We are encouraging all local authorities to engage widely with all members of their community and hon. Members about the development of local HealthWatch in their area.

Herbal Medicine

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  under what legislation the reclassification of (a) milk thistle and (b) black cohosh food supplements as unlicensed medicines by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency is taking place; how many (i) milk thistle and (ii) black cohosh products have been reclassified; and what assessment he has made of the effect of such reclassifications on small and medium-sized businesses;
	(2)  which botanical, herbal and other products have been investigated by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency since the coming into force of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive; and what the outcome was of the investigation in each case;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the implementation of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive on (a) small and medium-sized specialist manufacturers and distributors of products previously considered to be food supplements or medicines exempt from the need for a medicinal products licence, (b) the number of such products on the market and (c) consumer choice; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The classification of products as medicines is made on a case-by-case basis by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) under the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc) Regulations 1994 as amended. The MHRA has taken regulatory action against one black cohosh product, FSC Black Cohosh l,000 mg, and the status, of a further four products is currently under investigation. The MHRA has taken regulatory action against one milk thistle product, FSC Milk Thistle 200 mg, and the status of a further 11 is currently under investigation. Neither of the two products where MHRA has taken regulatory action has been reclassified. The MHRA has been carrying out classifications in line with existing legislation and guidance therefore no new assessment of the regulatory impact is necessary. A full assessment of the impact of the European Community Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD) was produced in 2005, in conjunction with the regulations implementing the directive. This assessment considered the impact on Small and Medium Enterprises (SME'S): a transitional period allowed companies seven years to adjust to the requirements of the new regulations, up to 30 April 2011. A copy of the. impact assessment has already been placed in the Library.
	The MHRA is currently investigating complaints about 21 companies selling some 148 herbal products which may fall within the definition of a medicine. Companies that are investigated. by the MHRA are entitled to their privacy especially where, following investigation, no subsequent enforcement action is taken against them. The MHRA considers that it would not be in the public interest to publish the names of companies, or their products, where no breach of legislation has been identified or where there is compliance with regulatory requirements; such an approach could also have legal implications. Where a case results in a final determination that a product is a medicine this information appears on the MHRA website. The MHRA is currently considering how effective, proportionate enforcement action can best ensure that the intended benefits of the THMPD for consumers and for companies compliant with the legislation are achieved.

Locums

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trusts audit the payment of funds to cover locum costs to ensure the funds have been spent on locums.

Simon Burns: The Department does not collect information on primary care trusts (PCTs) auditing of general practice on locum cost expenditure.
	Where a practice seeks additional funding from its PCT under the provisions of the General Medical Services Statement of Financial Entitlement to cover locum costs, it is a matter for each practice to demonstrate to their PCT the uses they propose to make of that discretionary funding. Should a contractor breach the terms under which the PCT has agreed funding the PCT has a right to recover payments made.

Meals on Wheels

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average charge was for meals on wheels in each English local authority in each year since 2000.

Paul Burstow: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 2 February 2012, Official Report, column 769W.

Monitor

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the principal anti-competitive modes of behaviour are, which he intends that Monitor will tackle.

Simon Burns: Under the Health and Social Care Bill, Monitor would have a duty to exercise its functions with a view to preventing anticompetitive behaviour in the provision of national health service services which is against the interests of patients.
	The aim is to protect patients' interests from self-serving abuses by providers that would harm those interests. Potential examples may include denying patients' rights to choice and collusion to restrict the range of services available to commissioners.

Neurology: Standards

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve neurological services.

Paul Burstow: The proposed reforms to commissioning, the greater focus on improving quality and joining services up more effectively, alongside a stronger collective voice for patients and the public will ensure the delivery of better, more seamless, services and improve patient and public experience. Recognising the importance of influencing the changes in commissioning process, neurological stakeholders have formed the Neurological Commissioning Support to work alongside commissioners to improve the way that neurological services are commissioned.
	Key developments aimed at improving services for those with long-term conditions, including neurological conditions, are the Quality, Innovation Productivity and Prevention (QIPP) programme and the NHS Outcomes Framework.
	QIPP is a large scale transformational programme for the national health service, involving all NHS staff, patients and the voluntary sector and will improve the quality of care. Local commissioners are currently configuring their work to drive the necessary changes and ensure that providers work together to respond to the challenge.
	The NHS Outcomes Framework will provide the framework for defining how the NHS will be accountable for outcomes. It encompasses five domains articulating the responsibilities of the NHS.
	Responsibility for ensuring that locally commissioned neurological services meet the needs of patients lies with primary care trusts. However, we recognise that there are still unacceptable local variations in the provision of neurological services, as highlighted by the recent National Audit Office report. We will be responding to the recommendations arising from the report, and subsequent Public Accounts Committee hearing in due course.

NHS Commissioning Board

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the proposed local offices of the National Commissioning Board will include a lead for specialised services.

Simon Burns: In documents published for its board meeting on 2 February, the NHS Commissioning Board Authority stated that, subject to the passage of legislation, the 50 proposed local offices would include a Head of Direct Commissioning.
	However, there will be scope within the overall budget for local office functions for the Chief Operating Officer to determine whether particular functions should be undertaken by small numbers of local offices on behalf of groups of the others. These are likely to include specialised commissioning.
	The distribution of the management resource between local offices will take account of these arrangements.
	NHS Commissioning Board Authority. Board meeting papers can be found on their website at:
	www.commissioningboard.nhs.uk/2012/01/26/board-meeting-020212/

NHS Commissioning Board

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Clinical Transitions Director in the NHS Medical Directorate on the plans for managed clinical networks for neuromuscular services to be established and funded by the National Commissioning Board.

Simon Burns: Proposals for the establishment and development of Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs) are being taken forward by the NHS Commissioning Board Authority. SCNs will play an important role in supporting Clinical Commissioning Groups and the Board to improve quality of care and outcomes for patients. Applications for establishing SCNs will be assessed against key criteria currently being developed with stakeholders.

NHS Foundation Trusts: Private Sector

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what public policy considerations he took into account before making his decision to increase the cap on the volume of private work that foundation trusts can undertake; and what assessment he has made of behavioural changes by (a) foundation trusts and (b) patients as a consequence of that increase.

Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill proposes to remove the national health service foundation trust private patient income cap. The clause to remove the cap was included in the Bill on introduction to Parliament in January 2011 and debated on a number of occasions. A Government amendment at Lords Report clarified that a foundation trust's principal legal purpose requires it to earn the majority of its income from the NHS. This gives an assurance that foundation trusts must remain predominantly NHS providers after the removal of the cap.
	The proposal to remove the cap was subject to public consultation in 2010. The Command Paper, “Liberating the NHS; Legislative framework and next steps”, and the impact assessments for the Bill consider the effect of removing the cap.

NHS: Pay

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average pay of (a) a Band 3 health care support worker was and (b) a state-registered Band 5 nurse in the most recent period for which information is available.

Simon Burns: The latest published NHS Information Centre Quarterly Earnings Survey figures for England for the period July to September 2011 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 £ 
			  Average earnings per full-time equivalent (FTE) Average basic pay per FTE 
			 Band 3 Health Care Support Worker 21,700 18,100 
			 Band 5 Qualified Nurse 30,000 25,400

Pain

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to include spinal cord stimulators for the treatment of chronic pain within the national tariff; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Spinal cord stimulators are currently excluded from the tariff.
	Each year the High Cost Devices Steering Group reviews the devices that are excluded due to their high and disproportionate cost relative to the costs covered under the relevant health care resource group. The exclusion of spinal cord stimulators will be reviewed again this year.
	The fact that spinal cord stimulators are excluded from tariff does not mean that their use is not funded. Reimbursement for their use is subject to local negotiation.

Pharmacy

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work his Department has undertaken to assess the suitability of a public service obligation for the supply of medicines in the UK.

Simon Burns: There are existing legal duties on manufacturers and distributors to ensure appropriate and continued supplies to pharmacies within the limits of their responsibilities, so that the needs of patients are met. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is currently reviewing the public service obligations introduced by other European member states.

Pharmacy: Databases

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider introducing a data collection system with pharmacies for the purposes of providing accurate data to measure the scale and effect of the time taken to supply branded medicines.

Simon Burns: The Department continues to work collaboratively with supply chain stakeholders to ensure that best practice supply arrangements are adopted to ensure patients receive the medicines they need. The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee already collects data on branded medicines shortages.

Plastic Surgery: Regulation

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure professional bodies can provide input into the NHS Medical Director's review of the regulation of the cosmetic surgery industry.

Simon Burns: It will be for Sir Bruce Keogh to determine precisely how the various interested parties can contribute to his review of the regulation of cosmetic interventions. We are sure that Sir Bruce will wish to engage very fully with the relevant professional bodies.

Prescription Drugs: Prices

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on the publication of the drug tariff in each of the last three years; and how often the drug tariff was published in each of the last three years;
	(2)  if he will estimate the annual savings which would accrue from publishing the NHS drug tariff online only;
	(3)  how much his Department has spent on (a) printing and (b) distribution of the drug tariff in February 2012.

Simon Burns: The annual production costs to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) associated with the publication and distribution of the Drug Tariff for the past three years was £328,130 in 2009, £336,146 in 2010 and £338,288 for 2011 (2011 is estimated). In February 2012, the cost of printing the Drug Tariff was £20,577 and distribution was £6,330. These figures exclude forward distribution costs to general practitioner practices and pharmacies incurred by primary care trusts, and NHS BSA estate and management costs. The Drug Tariff is published each month.
	A single process is used to produce the electronic and paper Drug Tariffs. Therefore only the printing and distribution costs would be saved if the paper Drug Tariff was discontinued. For the most recent available year, 2010, the annual saving from not producing the paper Drug Tariff would have been £303,677.

Primary Care Trusts: North West

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the public purse of staff redundancies by primary care trusts in (a) Tameside and Glossop and (b) Stockport has been since May 2010.

Simon Burns: The information is not available in the format requested. Information on the cost of exit packages for Stockport Primary Care Trust (PCT), and Tameside and Glossop PCT, in 2010-11 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Cost of exit packages 2010-11 
			 Organisation £000 
			 Stockport PCT 761 
			 Tameside and Glossop PCT 95 
			 Notes: 1. Data are taken from the audited summarisation schedules of PCTs and NHS trusts, from which the NHS (England) Summarised Accounts are prepared. The disclosure in the accounts reports the number and value of exit packages taken by staff leaving in the year. 2. The expense associated with these departures may have been recognised in part or in full in a previous period. 3. Exit packages include compulsory redundancies and other departures. The latter includes the cost of both early retirements (excluding those relating to ill-health) and voluntary redundancies. It is not possible to separately identify the value of either of these costs from the data collected. An overall figure for redundancies is therefore not identifiable. Source: Audited summarisation schedules of PCTs and NHS trusts.

Private Patients: NHS Trusts

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were treated as private patients by Warrington and Halton NHS Trust in each of the last five years; how many per year he expects to be treated as private patients under the provisions of the Health and Social Care Bill; and what assessment he has made of the consequent effect on waiting times in each speciality.

Simon Burns: Information on the number of finished admission episodes, including for private patients, at the Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for the years indicated, are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Count of finished admission episodes by administrative category at Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for the year 2006-07 to 2010-11 
			  2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Total 65,802 75,255 79,255 81,561 77,985 
			 NHS 65,668 75,106 79,114 81,406 77,897 
			 Private patients 121 149 137 142 87 
			 Unknown 13 — 4 13 1 
			 Notes: 1. A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 2. Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly form 2006-07) and changes in NHS. Practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. 3. HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity. 4. Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the Information Centre for health and social care. 
		
	
	Subject to Parliament, the Government will remove the private patient income cap for NHS foundation trusts and ensure there are significant safeguards to protect NHS patients. This includes the role of NHS commissioners who remain responsible for ensuring timely and high-quality care for NHS patients through legal contracts with NHS providers. The proposal to remove the cap was subject to public consultation in 2010, The Command Paper “Liberating the NHS: Legislative framework and next steps” and the impact assessments for the Health and Social Care Bill consider the effect of removing the cap.

Risk Assessment

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the communication of risk assessments made by (a) his Department, (b) strategic health authorities, (c) primary care trusts, (d) foundation trusts and (e) Executive agencies.

Simon Burns: The Department seeks to publish its information about risk, and the assessment of risk, in cases where it is in the public interest to do so.
	Policies on the publication of national health service organisations' individual risk assessments would be a matter for the individual organisations concerned.